Richland Housing Authority's Future in Jeopardy

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Story Published: Oct 14, 2009 at 7:26 PM PST

By Molly Kelleher

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RICHLAND -- The feds are pulling their Section 8 funding from the Richland Housing Authority. HUD has decided to discontinue their voucher contract with Richland.

This comes after five consecutive state audits turned up red flags or mismanaged money.

Some board members blamed former director Al Watson and Wednesday at a special meeting, the housing authority board decided to terminate him with cause.

Watson has been on administrative leave since last month.

At the meeting the board chair went over some of the reasons for termination.

"HVAC contracts for his daughters houses and that is a conflict of interest. Then those grants this agency had to pay back. Al withheld the audit in August from this board which is why we're in this situation today," said board chair Britt Creer.

It was either terminate with cause or a separation deal. A seperation deal could cost the agency up to $22,000. Termination will cost a third less.

Also decided Wednesday, the board is now in talks with Pasco and Kennewick housing authority to take over the Section 8 program.

That would leave a very slimmed down Richland Housing Authority or none at all. The city will decided that soon.

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