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HUD/Civil Rights review

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Council
Forum Description: Discuss individual members and council as a legislative body.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5400
Printed Date: Apr 28 2024 at 11:02pm


Topic: HUD/Civil Rights review
Posted By: 409
Subject: HUD/Civil Rights review
Date Posted: Aug 02 2013 at 5:52pm
From MJ:
HUD continues its Civil Rights review of city’s Section 8 program
By http://www.middletownjournal.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —

The city continues to be under the microscope of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after it received three letters this week pertaining to its subsidized housing program, commonly known as Section 8.

The city underwent a three-day Civil Rights Compliance review of its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program last month and HUD officials aren’t done, according to a letter dated July 31. The federal housing agency will continue that investigation with a second on-site inspection later this month, including a series of interviews scheduled for next week.

The city also received two letters on Tuesday concerning how the Middletown Public Housing Authority is in violation of the Uniform Financial Reporting Standards requiring housing authorities to submit financial information to HUD.

On Aug. 13-15, HUD will continue its compliance review, according to a letter from the HUD obtained by The Middletown Journal.

During this month’s visit, investigators “will continue to conduct interviews, and review files related to the Section 8 program,” according to the letter from Carolyn Murphy, the director of HUD’s Columbus Fair Housing Center.

The city had prepared 1,000 pages worth of documents when the HUD officials came to review the program from July 16-18. City officials were informed of the July on-site review of the program and an in-house review of data pertaining to the program in a May 31-dated letter from Murphy’s office.

City and HUD officials are not commenting on the ensuing interviews, the upcoming visit or the visit that had already happened.

According to the July 31-date letter, officials from HUD’s Cincinnati field office will conduct interviews by phone and at the MPHA office on Elliott Drive in Middletown. On Wednesday and Thursday, all council members except for Mayor Larry Mulligan will be interviewed by telephone. On Friday at the MPHA office, City Manager Judy Gilleland and Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins will be interviewed in person.

It is uncertain why the mayor was not included to be interviewed.

Before the city was informed about the continuation of the Civil Rights Compliance review, it was addressing two letters pertaining to the 2011 Section 8 program financial audit.

The two letters — one outlined the financial reporting requirements and the other highlighted two “findings” from an independent audit — give the city two months to submit documents that outline corrective actions to violating HUD’s reporting standards and not accounting for more than $8,000.

MPHA apparently did not submit financial data schedules for 2006 to 2011, which “prevents the department from conducting proper assessments of the financial health of the financial authority,” according to Sweet.

The city must submit FDS information for 2009 to 2012 within 60 days, as well as a corrective action plan.

MPHA also apparently paid $736 in February 2001 for a person that left the Section 8 program in 2010. MPHA also did not pay HUD $7,571 in interest earned on federal funds.

HUD concluded that in both cases, there was “a lack of internal controls,” and the nonpayment of the interest funds “resulted in noncompliance with the grant agreement.”

The letter indicates the city had responded to both issues and “concurs” with both findings.

Pertaining to the payment for a former Section 8 participant, the city has recovered that money. The city had indicated internal changes happened in early 2011 when it changed program administrators from Consoc Housing Consultants to Nelson & Associates.

Regarding the nonpayment, the city “intends to make modifications to the internal controls covering these programs to ensure compliance … .”

HUD is also asking for documentation to correct an apparent accounting error regarding a transfer of $50,000 from the Home program to the Housing Assistance Fund. An audited financial data schedule was not submitted to HUD to determine when the issue occurred. Documentation is also being requested.




Replies:
Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: Aug 03 2013 at 9:40pm
An interesting list of HUD findings thus far.  Surely there won't be any additional problems uncovered?


Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 8:59am
all council members except for Mayor Larry Mulligan will be interviewed...      http://youtu.be/8eS35QdbgAM" rel="nofollow - http://youtu.be/8eS35QdbgAM


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 9:22am

I'm sure HUD will uncoved more problems or they would not be making this second visit to interview those at City Hall

I view this as a major housecleaning audit by HUD.
They are getting all their ducks in a row so they can transfer the Section 8 Program to Butler County before the end of the year.


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 11:05am
We can only hope, VIV,that that happens. It needs to be taken out of the hands of such back stabing and vindictive people. Then, maybe the city can then concentrate on the main issues of the city like infrastructure and jobs.


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 12:30pm
Vivian,
 
If HUD transfers the S8 Voucher Program to BMHA, Mr. Akins would not have ample CDBG and HOME Program funds to maintain his current staff.  As it stands, almost 50% of the CDBG Program funds are used for administration and program delivery (HUD term for other project related administrative expenses).  Maybe he could raid the NSP Program Income account for some of his staff?  And, if BMHA is administering S8, he would surely direct code enforcement personnel to pay even more attention to those rental units.  After all, he still must have some of the 2,300 properties that were not corrected through his Housing Code Blitzkrieg of 2009?


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 12:52pm
I think he probably has already "eyed" the NSP funds. He already stated in front of council about another fund he raided that "they will have it spent before they can take it back" so it would not surprise me for him to do it again. If the program IS moved to BMHA I wonder what he will do for a job and what the city will do for "spending" money.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 06 2013 at 7:54am

HUD IS BACK IN TOWN

On this visit HUD will be interviewing council members, city manager and staff.
I do believe the TRUTH is about to hit the fan.
BTW….How much are we paying for all this HUD legal advice Ms Judy?



Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: Aug 06 2013 at 9:46am
BTW….How much are we paying for all this HUD legal advice Ms Judy?      don't think they will be prepared to tell-ya anytime soon.. good thing they got those bucks on the sale of ground for the movie theater, that should last a little while when the fight begins....


Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Aug 06 2013 at 2:58pm

If any one thinks that this isn't retaliation for trying to undo the Obama administrations welfare for all agenda they must have voted for the guy. And I'm not saying that I support the city's running of the section 8 program or defending any of the ass hats at city hall. If any one thinks that the city isn't about to be punished by obamas minions from HUD then they aren't  paying attention, civil rights investigation ? really ? Why are the wasting tax payers money investigating section 8 for civil rights violations ?



Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Apr 11 2014 at 8:33pm
SO WHAT ABOUT THE MPHA SECTION 8 PROGRAM WHATS GOING ON THERE BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS OF THE UNSTOPPABLE CITY COUNCIL IS THIS A DEAD SUBJECT? WHY IS JUDY REALLY LEAVING? STRESS OR A DEAL?



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Apr 11 2014 at 8:50pm
Well you can see the stress is written all over her. She's getting out because she see the writing on the wall. She thinks she can save face but when (I didn't say if) it hits the fan she's going to smell Right along with Dougie.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Apr 11 2014 at 10:40pm

I have heard that City Hall has until June 1st to turn the Section 8 Program over to Warren and Butler County.
Miss Judy and Mr. Doug want to keep their failure under wraps until they leave City Hall but sooner or later the truth will be uncovered.
So my next question is…How much money have they wasted on legal fees over the past year? 



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Apr 12 2014 at 1:38pm
I would say a bunch. It coast them a bundle to keep Judy and Doug from being prosecuted. They need to cut their loses ,let it go to Warren and Butler and quit trying to save face because it's all going to come out anyway. But then this fighting to keep it shows just how munch money will be leaving the city and they are desparate to keep it. There will be several people not being paid when it leaves. Let's see how desperate they get then.



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