News -> INDReporter TUE, SEP 21 11:54AM by Leslie Turk

Former LHA board members’ appeals on Tuesday agenda

They’ll have to sit through a joint Lafayette City-Parish Council/Lafayette Public Utilities Authority meeting and a special Lafayette Public Power Authority meeting before their appeals are heard, but three dismissed Lafayette Housing Authority board members will have their say tonight in a special meeting of the council.

Removed in mid-August by City-Parish President Joey Durel amid a scathing review of the LHA’s operations and management by an independent auditor, Joe Dennis, John Freeman Jr. and Leon Simmons contend they were unfairly dismissed. In part, they contend the decision to remove them was made before they were able to fully review the audit. The audit was submitted to the LHA with a June 30 cover letter addressing the board of commissioners and was sent to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor on July 14, but board members say they were not shown the report; its findings came to light only after then-board Chairman Buddy Webb called the Monroe-based auditor Aug. 5 for a copy of it. Webb's inquiry was prompted by LHA Executive Director Walter Guillory's effort to call a board meeting to hire a new auditing firm.

The audit of LHA’s 2009 operations, however, pointed out a number of problems also cited in the 2008 independent audit, issues that the LHA failed to address — and further evidence board members had been asleep at the wheel for some time. On Aug. 13, the board called a special meeting to terminate five Disaster Housing Assistance Program case managers, one of whom was former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams, after the audit found numerous discrepancies in how the case managers were compensated (each was paid $37 an hour for 40 hours of work per week, despite that some held other jobs). In that meeting, attended by this reporter, not a single board member expressed outrage at the findings contained in the report (board member Donald Fuselier was out of town on business and did not attend), vowing only to put new policies in place to avoid these problems in the future.

Durel, who is authorized to appoint five LHA board members, also later dismissed board members Gertrude Batiste and Gregory Day, after he got the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials in the cities of Broussard and  Abbeville, whose Section 8 programs are under the umbrella of the LHA, had appointed Batiste and Day, respectively. Durel says HUD made it clear to him that the red flags raised by the independent auditor about how the LHA was being run were justification for dismissing the board and replacing it with new members.

Durel plans to keep only one board member, Fuselier, a former city prosecutor, and was in the process of naming a new board before the appeals were filed with the city-parish council. Webb resigned from the board after the 2009 audit was released, citing both disappointment with Guillory's stewardship of the agency and health problems.  

Both HUD and the legislative auditor have been reviewing the LHA’s operations for more than a month; the FBI and state inspector general are conducting investigations as well. Read more on the LHA’s problems here.


Comments (19)add
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written by chris williams , September 21, 2010 - 07:47 pm
hopefully criminal charges will soon be pursued against Worthless Williams
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written by realitychecks , September 21, 2010 - 08:14 pm
LAME: the decision to remove them was made before they were able to fully review the audit.

So what? It is an "independent audit"; that would mean that you don't get to revise it; that's the point. And you saw last year's with the same kinds of issues so you've had plenty of time to clean up your act but greed overwhelmed any belief that your free ride might come to an end!! GONE!! you're history!! A bad chapter of it!
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written by BoFred , September 22, 2010 - 09:58 am
I don't really understand how good people can be taken down so easily by bad people. I assume it was difficult or uncomfortable to "buck" phd Wms, as he was still on the council when he started & running for another office. I have always thought Mr. Dennis a good honest man working for his community. I realize & recognize Mr. Dennis has been an activist for many years and seen & endured many difficulties, prejudices, hardships due to bigotry. Even that word doesn't seem adequate. I believe many such as myself do not see this removal as a mark against Mr. Dennis' integrity. I have no reason to doubt the other gentlemen's integrity. I believe MANY people agree with me. I believe its a collective issue. The Feds are looking at Lafayette now. This housing issue affects the lives of the many who depend on it. In my thinking, the board needs to be replaced for that reason. Careful, careful consideration should be given to choices for replacement, because candidates like Mr. Dennis are needed. Hey 101, you want to consider serving on that board. From reading these boards, I think you'd make a good choice.
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 22, 2010 - 03:16 pm
Maybe Durel can help us get rid of SLICK RICK?
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written by The Original Northsidian , September 22, 2010 - 06:35 pm
Cali Man, I thought you said you were not posting anymore?
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 22, 2010 - 07:12 pm
The Original Northsidian,

I have on good authority that The Independent is going to look into SLICK RICK HARDY TAXES
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 22, 2010 - 07:22 pm
I have it on good authority that The Independent will be looking into the TAX FRAUD THAT SLICK RICK HARDY HAS PERPETRATED ON TH PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA AND THE NATION.

Remember, Hardy operated two businesses with a total of 7 employees for whom he paid no FICA, WORK COMP, STATE & FED INCOME TAX, etc.
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written by neutral party , September 22, 2010 - 08:04 pm
CALIFORNIA give it up your opinions are falling on deaf ears
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written by Persue the Housing Authority Disaster Aliance , September 22, 2010 - 08:15 pm
Yes it's true. The LHA have been publicized for months about their aliance government skit roll perfomance. Congratulation! What a mighty, mighty job all the crooked aliance think they got away with. You know something. It's funny how we think we got away with all the wrong doing and stealing of poor people lively-hood and deplorerably homes most of the residents are trying to get some wheres in life. When one day all of them will think back, about what they did to the poorer people in the housing units who are trying to do whats right and legal and they stole their integrity and ambitious mind, teaching their Children to be honest and earn a living the right way you was raise and not to take anything that did not belong to you and what could happen to you when you do the wrong things in life they will be able to tell them what happen to (The Crooked Disaster Aliance Gang). Walter Guillory, because he's the ring leader, he let them do what they wanted to, he got the money and distributed to the other partners in crime. Because without the money being pull in from HUD they would have not been able to get anything. Don't tell me he did not know what was going on in the agency. He was appointed the Director to over see that every thing was being done correctly. He knew this for years what type of operation he was running. And for God sake the Board knew too. The LHA audit is done every year. By whom, it doesn't matter unless they were not qualify to handle the job. From fraud to gross mismanagement to neglect of oversight. This all occurred under the LHA Board or Walter Guillory whom ever. Don't they have board meetings. Don't they discuss any of the formalities at there meetings or/are they like the same crooks at the Opelousas Housing Authority? OH! I forgot! He worked there too. HUD employee, must be one also that knew what was going on, anyway, to dismiss the board too. Look like to me if this is what the HUD recommendation, to remove the whole board, why didn't they do it themself. Instead, they are making Joey Durel be the bad guy. If HUD would have been doing their job in the first place, maybe that jar of jam wouldn't have been rotten now. They are never around when you need them to be. It's always after the facts!!! Now you have all these people who been committing illegal acts for years and playing the blame game on each other or I don't know what happen. Both Councilmen Kenneth Boudreaux and Brandon Shelvin are very close to Walter Guillory. Why would you not think they would turn their backs on him. They are there for his sheild and staff. You know they will defend him and all the Board Members involve with this situation. Walter Guillory was most of their Meal Tickets. It's like the Opelousas Housing Authority, Program cited in the audit as problematic. No one executed the Band, Bus and Instruments program, but, on all the checks signed was Walter Guillory name and One of the Board Members. How can you argue that He didn't know what He was signing. You the Director of the Agency and will be held accountable for every thing that pass through the Agency. How stupid is that. Please tell me!!! HUD wants a clean house, well they better start cleaning shop from long ago. Because, I understand it's a mountain of trash left at the Opelousas Housing Authority, too!!! Starting with their Chairperson Mary Doucet and also the new Director Joann Tyler. Joann Tyler got the job through her Soroity Sisters and Walter Guillory before he left the Opelousas Housing Authority. She's not even from the Opelousas Area. What they need is someone who is familiar with the residents in the area and do whats right in the Agency and not be lead around by the horns like Mary Doucet inforce all the Directors. After (20 yrs.) of having accomplish nothing for the Agency her self, but stick close to the Directors and Micromanage the Agent and scare the employees with their jobs. I know one thing, it's time, no, pass time to get rid of all the oldees and get new blood in the system. Most of us are so glad election is coming up and we the people can make the difference in our life.
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 22, 2010 - 10:10 pm
Persue the Housing Authority Disaster Aliance,

Listen STICKPIN BRAIN, SMOOTH ASS SLICK RICK got these people terminally dependent upon the good will of the rich people in the state. If representative SLICK RICK HARDY start leading in the community by getting JOBS AND INDUSTRY to 44, people won't need housing for the poor.

This CLOWN don't know what the hell he's doing and he diverts the people attention off in pursuit of some petrty criminals.
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written by Bret Miller , September 23, 2010 - 11:04 am
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 23, 2010 - 02:39 pm
Bret Miller,

And?
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 23, 2010 - 03:12 pm
Bret Miller, grab a bag of popcorn and lets watch your candidate DAVID VITTER leave his hotel after buying sex from his whore.

http://forgottencrimes.com/?gclid=COiV2YXynaQCFQY-bAodawLaEg
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written by The Original Northsidian , September 23, 2010 - 11:39 pm
cali man: you are one sick dude. You must have gone to school for way-y-y-y 2 long!! A doctor should be able to treat your obsession. I know it pisses you off that someone whose elevator does not go to the top floor is getting the best of the obnoxious and arrogant well educated thieves. Go Ricky!!
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 24, 2010 - 03:03 pm
The Original Northsidian,

Good, I'm glad you like the porn movie with VITTER and his PROSTITUTE as the stars.

I am under the care of a doctor. I am diagnosed as having CAN'TSTANDVITTER&HISNASTYPROSTITUTEWHORESITIS.

My doctor says I will be cured by november3rd.
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written by The Original Northsidian , September 24, 2010 - 05:16 pm
cali man, you are a spin doctor. I did not say anything about Vitter. It was about you obnoxious & arrogant thieving friends!! But tell me, if Vitter wins will you not come here anymore?
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 24, 2010 - 06:22 pm
If VITTER, THE PROSTITUTE WHORE MONGERING FREAK WHO PAYS HIS PROSTITUTES AN EXTRA $20 TO LET HIM PERFORM ORAL SEX ON THEM, WINS, I AM MOVING BACK TO LOUISIANA AND WILL RUN AGAINST HIM IN 2016.
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written by The Original Northsidian , September 25, 2010 - 07:56 pm
Like you have a shot!! Now let's talk about your arrogant and thieving friends!! You are a spin man extraordinaire. That is why everyone knows you are a local politician who lives on the taxpayer teat!!
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written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , September 25, 2010 - 08:23 pm
VITTER is not going to win, The Original Northsidian.

The people of Louisiana will reject a man who has some much hatrate and vitrol toward women. Don't be at all suprised if VITTER does not get caught in another PROSTITUTION STING. This LITTLE MAN is a horrible, horrible speciman.

Please print this and keep it handy. Here is my prediction:

Dems will retain both houses.
BITTER VITTER will loose
Rand Paul will loose
Sharon Angle will loose
Blanche Linclon will loose (aka Mary Landrieu the Obama agenda stopper)
That CLOWN from ALASKA will loose
Christine O'donnell will loose

These people are a bunch of CLOWN just like VITTER
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