San Joaquin Housing Authority officials scolded by grand jury

By Zachary K. Johnson
Record Staff Writer
June 16, 2009 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - The grand jury on Monday tore into the appointed panel overseeing the San Joaquin Housing Authority, saying commissioners failed to comply with two federal audits, authorized contracts without legal review, abandoned their leadership roles and didn't understand their responsibilities.

The agency provides affordable housing for some 20,000 county residents.

The panel's final 2008-09 report said, "The grand jury found the Board of Commissioners inadequate in dealing with and in understanding its full responsibility and stewardship."

The civil grand jury goes on to recommend the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors remove two members from the Board of Commissioners, but did not specifically name either person.

Officials at the Housing Authority refuted the jury's finding about the federal audits but said they could not respond to the whole report until the board meets and there is time to draft a response. It is on the agenda for the commissioner's Thursday meeting. The law requires an official response within 90 days.

There will be a "comprehensive and thorough response to this opinion," said Alan Coon, the Housing Authority's legal counsel.

The Housing Authority is a separate entity from county government, but county supervisors appoint Housing Authority commissioners. In its report, the grand jury recommends the supervisors work with the authority director to implement a comprehensive application and interview process to find more-suitable appointments.

At the time of the grand jury's investigation, the commissioner's chairwoman was Audrey Jordan. The grand jury said the chair's conduct in meetings was "unprofessional" and that the chair had made "racial remarks" around employees and in public meetings. According to the jury, the chair dismissed the remarks as "colorful language."

Jordan did not return a call seeking comment.

Jordan was first appointed the commissioner representing the First Supervisorial District in 1998. The second commissioner recommended for removal is described as a tenant commissioner appointed in May 2006. Of the seven-member board's two tenant commissioners, only Sonia Henderson fits that description.

The grand jury reported the commissioner had repeatedly behaved in an abusive manner toward Housing Authority employees and contractors.

Henderson could not be reached for comment.

Current Chairman Rudy Willey said he had never personally witnessed either woman acting inappropriately. He recounted the meeting two weeks ago when he replaced Jordan as the commission chairperson, repeating that he complimented the guiding principals she established over her two-year tenure.

Willey noted that the housing authority commissioners across the country are private citizens, not necessarily with a background in housing or government.

"What they do share are their dedication and good intentions," he said. Willey noted that where there is passion, "sometimes toes get stepped on."

As to the audits in the grand jury report, they had been reviewed and closed by the Office of the Inspector General, and no misconduct was found, he said.

It's not the first time the Housing Authority commissioners were graded harshly by a county grand jury. The 2003-04 grand jury asked commissioners at the time to classify the Housing Authority. One commissioner answered it was a federal agency, some thought it was a state agency and others said they had no idea - but all said they thought it was a nonprofit.

Monday's report also noted a leadership void during the yearlong absence of an executive director and the board's previous elimination of the deputy director position.

The commissioners this year hired a new executive director and re-established the deputy director position.

Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or zjohnson@recordnet.com.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090616/A_NEWS/906160325/-1/NEWSMAP