Housing authority delays budget decision, layoffs
The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted to table the agency‘s fiscal 2016 budget, postponing proposed layoffs and the outsourcing of three programs.
During the meeting about the controversial plans there were also calls for the Nevada attorney general‘s office to investigate the board for allegations of misconduct unrelated to budget.
The budget vote came after lengthy public comment from employees, community residents, those served by the agency and even four Nevada lawmakers, who expressed concerns.
Employees and commissioners alike only recently became aware of the agency‘s "sustainability plan" that outlines the outsourcing and layoffs of 45 employees. The plan was part of the effort to resolve the agency‘s projected deficit of between $1.6 million and $1.8 million for fiscal year 2016, which begins Oct. 1.
The agency has an annual budget of close to $150 million.
Commissioner Theresa Davis disagreed with the assertion in the plan saying it was developed through a collaborative effort.
"I don‘t see the collaborative effort when it is four or five people sitting at the table making the decisions," she said. "...We are not looking at 45 jobs, we are looking at 45 families."
The plan proposes outsourcing management for four of 26 public housing properties, inspections for housing quality standards and the operation of the family self-sufficiency program.
Approving the budget could have made the agency vulnerable to legal action. Under the contract agreement between the agency and Service Employees International Union local 1107, which represents agency employees, the housing authority is required to provide a 60-day notice of intent to subcontract for such work, but it didn‘t.
SEIU counsel Michael Urban told commissioners they shouldn‘t even consider the action until the notice is given.
"You are being taken down a path of illegality, litigation and more legal fees and costs," he said.
The housing authority has about 240 employees. Of them, 205 are eligible to participate in the union and 173 are members.
Clarissa Gutierrez, a worker with the housing authority, was among those who pleaded with commissioners not to act on the plan.
"A good leader is not selfish," she said to housing authority Executive Director John Hill. "Today, I challenge you to do the right thing for the dedicated employees."
Commissioner Tim O‘Callaghan was perplexed.
"I could never, ever support this," he said. "I‘m terribly, terribly disappointed because it wasn‘t very thoughtful."
Commissioner and the Rev. Dave Casaleggio said the whole reason why the discussion of layoffs and outsourcing was taking place was because of the union.
"We need to be able to face reality," he said, adding that if the agency is not sustained, than nobody will have jobs.
The housing authority has been trying to negotiate a new contract for more than two years.
Hill said he will give the 60-day notice to the union and will try to reach consensus on the plan and the budget issues. The agency has to submit its projected budget to federal officials by the end of September.
The meeting took a left turn toward the end when allegations of misconduct ’ ranging from conflict of interest to sexual harassment ’ involving five of the 13 housing authority commissioners were made by Commissioner Dora LaGrande, whose conduct also has been called into question by her colleagues.
The allegations prompted O‘Callaghan and Vice Chairman Sanje Sedera to call for the Nevada attorney general‘s office to investigate the board.
Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro
