By Kevin Coughlin
For weeks, controversy has swirled around a looming vacancy on the Morristown Housing Authority board.
Now, make that two openings.
Mary Dougherty, whose credentials were challenged by another commissioner last month at a meeting that escalated into a heated closed-door confrontation, resigned on Wednesday.
She said the state Department of Community Affairs reversed four prior certifications and ruled that she had not completed five required training classes within a mandatory 18-month period, as fellow Commissioner Dorothy Holman had charged last month.
“I heard this morning that I didn’t qualify, so I resigned… I try to do everything by the letter of the law,” said Dougherty, the chairperson of the town Democratic party and wife of Mayor Tim Dougherty.
The resignation from the unpaid position comes as the authority is under federal investigation, according to its executive director, who has not disclosed the nature of the probe.
It also comes as the town council is facing pressure from some residents to replace authority Chairman Michael Cherello, a holdover, with a resident of public housing.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development requires at least one such resident on the seven-member volunteer board, according to town Attorney Vij Pawar.
Earlier this month, the council held off making an appointment, honoring a request by housing authority Executive Director Roy Rogers to let the investigation play out.
Meanwhile, the authority may need to revisit every deciding vote cast by Mary Dougherty, dating from the time her 18-month window expired, said Cherello, the board’s chairman, noting he was “sorry and upset” by the state’s stance.
Mary Dougherty “was a very hard-working commissioner. She asked a lot of questions…[and] truly has the best interests of the town and residents at heart,” said Cherello, whose own term expired last month. “Hopefully, the town will see fit to put her back on the board.”
Recent authority decisions that now may be null and void, the chairman said, include a one-year extension of Rogers’ contract, and a new policy prohibiting out-of-state conferences for commissioners. Three commissioners have been scrutinized for MHA trips to such places as Martha’s Vineyard; St. Petersburg, FL; and San Francisco. Holman just returned from a trip to Los Angeles.
The housing authority oversees 470 units of public housing and 186 Section 8 housing vouchers.
Dear Council President Feldman:
I am writing to inform you that although the State of NJ Department of Community Affairs, (DCA) has approved my certification on numerous occasions, after the last Housing Authority meeting when my credentials were questioned, I fully supported our Board Attorney, Joseph Manfredi, confirming my certifications with the State DCA.
I have learned today that the State DCA no longer acknowledged my certification. Given this information, I respectfully resign from my role as Commissioner of the MHA.
Kind regards,
Mary
Rogers could not be reached for comment on Wednesday about Mary Dougherty’s resignation. Authority Attorney Joseph Manfredi said he was not authorized to comment.
Holman also declined to comment. A DCA spokesperson was not immediately able to respond when asked about the situation.
WANT TO BE A COMMISSIONER?
Council President Rebecca Feldman said she will solicit applications from the entire public housing community.
“I’m going to see to it that the town of Morristown mails a letter to every resident of public housing letting them know we welcome applications to serve as commissioners on the Morristown Housing Authority,” Feldman said.
“And we very much appreciate the service of our commissioners during this difficult and contentious time,” she added.
Mary Dougherty’s situation appears to turn on a technicality. She completed all five required classes — covering Section 8 rules, commissioner skills, ethics, financial issues and procedures, and design principles– during her stints as an interim- and full-time commissioner.
The question was whether the 18-month clock to complete these classes started with her temporary appointment, or when she was sworn in to the full term.
She completed three courses after the town council appointed her to fill another commissioner’s unexpired term in March 2012. The last two courses were completed about eight months after she was named to a five-year term in September 2013.
Her service has exacted a personal toll, placing her at odds with Holman and Commissioner Vera White, staunch supporters of her husband in the Second Ward, a Democratic stronghold where a Republican, Pastor Sidney Williams Jr., is running a serious campaign with help from the Morris County GOP.
None of that factored into her decision to step down from the housing authority, Mary Dougherty said, expressing faith that everyone will do what’s best for residents.
“I am absolutely confident the governing body will do their due diligence in interviewing future candidates to serve on the commission that oversees quality of life issues for residents needing to be served,” she said. “I trust that the commissioners will continue to ask direct questions to be sure people are being served appropriately.”
Jeanine Crippen, the newest authority commissioner, praised Mary Dougherty’s dedication, while noting she never anticipated the turbulence that is enveloping the board.
“When I volunteered for the board, I thought I would be lending my experience and talent, and giving back to my community in the best way I know how,” said Crippen, who has spent 20 years working on the private sector side of low-income housing.
“But this is a pretty toxic environment.”
“You can fool all the people part of the time, or you can fool some people all the time, but you cannot fool all people all the time.” Abe.
Tip of the iceberg….stay tuned
The most disfunctionsl group of individuals gathered in one room…replace all of them..this is an embarasment to the fine town of Morristown.
This article names all commissioners for every issue, except the three commissioners that were scrutinized for their travel. Why is that?