Eddie A. Perez

Mayor

 

City and HUD to Coordinate Investigation of Housing Authority

 

---NEWS RELEASE---

 

(September 20, 2006)--- Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez announced today that the City Audit Commission and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development will coordinate their investigations into allegations of improper activity at the Hartford Housing Authority.  At the Mayor’s request, the City Audit Commission launched an investigation on August 22nd into certain allegations of improper activity at the Hartford Housing Authority.  On Monday, the Office of the Inspector General for HUD agreed to coordinate its investigation with the City Audit Commission to ensure that both agencies are able to conduct their investigations in a timely and efficient manner.  Pursuant to Mayor Perez’s authority under the city charter and state statute, he will also be conducting a separate inquiry looking at the overall efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

 

“I am pleased that HUD will be joining the inquiry into the allegations of improper activity at the housing authority.  The Office of the Inspector General will be able to determine if the recent allegations rise to the level of criminal behavior and the audit commission will be able to determine the soundness of authority policies and procedures surrounding distribution of funds and accounting for public property.  I am confident we will quickly learn to what extent the allegations of improper activity have merit and begin the process of restoring public trust in the authority,” Mayor Perez stated.

 

Today, Mayor Perez sent a letter in his capacity as the appointing authority of the housing authority, asking for certain information concerning the overall administrative efficiency and accountability of the board of commissioners.  “This information along with the results of the HUD and audit commission investigations will help me determine if there are any grounds for action against any commissioners pursuant to state statute,” Mayor Perez stated.