VIA FAX
January 9, 2013
The Honorable Chuck Grassley
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
RE: January 9, 2014 Dayton Daily News article quoting Senator Grassley
Dear Senator Grassley:
The article referenced has inaccuracies and misrepresents the actual acts of the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. Specifically, the separation payment to the former CEO, Gregory Johnson, was issued under a contractual obligation. Next, the Board did appoint an executive leadership team comprised of the individuals who oversee the key agency departmentswho were compensated for their additional duties and responsibilities, which is verified in the board resolution dated December 9, 2013. This Board Resolution specifically indicates that this leadership team is only acting in a temporary capacity which means that the annualized figure of $192,000 quoted in the article will never be expended. Finally, the allegation that the housing authority was required to pay out $50,000 to settle a case is a misrepresentation because that settlement and the associated legal costs to that specific issue were completely covered by the authority’s liability insurance. Furthermore, this settlement was made without the Board of Directors’ knowledge or authorization and, to reiterate, no public funds were used.
The Board of Directors and the Executive Staff are concerned with these inaccuracies and wish to clarify the factual inaccuracies presented in the Dayton Daily News articles dated October 18, 2013, December 12, 2013 and January 9, 2014.
Greater Dayton Premier Management has reached out to editors of Dayton Daily News, specifically Julia Wallace and Brian Kollars, to express our concerns about the above inaccuracies and misrepresentations. Ms. Wallace referred us to Mr. Kollars and listened to our concerns and assured us that he would look into the situation. GDPM will keep you apprised of the situation as it develops.
The focus of the agency and the entire staff is to continue to provide the highest level of service and to provide safe and affordable housing to our residents and the community.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 910-7530.
Respectfully yours,
Christopher C. Green
General Counsel, GDPM
Attachments:
Board resolution
Board Minutes
December 12, 2013 Dayton Daily News article
January 9, 2014 Dayton Daily News article
October 18, 2013 Dayton Daily News article
GDPM Mission Statement
GDPM Vision Statement
Cc:
Senator Sherrod Brown
Senator Rob Portman
Representative John Boehner
Representative Joyce Beatty
Representative Steve Chabot
Representative Marcia Fudge
Representative Bob Gibbs
Representative Bill Johnson
Representative Jim Jordan
Representative David Joyce
Representative Marcy Kaptur
Representative Robert Latta
Representative James Renacci
Representative Tim Ryan
Representative Steve Stivers
Representative Pat Tiberi
Representative Michael Turner
Representative Brad Wenstrup