Boggs resigns
Published 9:00 am Saturday, July 5, 2008
By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Georgia Boggs' resignation from the Niles Housing Commission board was official Thursday.
Boggs and board chairman Scott Clark had been under scrutiny by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for representing a "conflict of interest" by holding positions on the board.
Boggs holds a current seat on the Niles City Council – which HUD said went against stipulations outlined in an Annual Contributions Contract previously signed between the department and the city of Niles.
City Administrator Terry Eull said Thursday morning, "while we don't fully agree with HUD's opinion – for the sake of moving on," Boggs' resignation was accepted.
Clark, a previous member of the commission, returned within a 12-month period – another violation of the contract according to HUD. Whether or not Clark will remain on the board has not been determined as of yet.
Attorneys for the city of Niles and HUD, Eull said, "are still working on the interpretations of his status."
Troubles among the Niles Housing Commission board escalated in recent months with allegations of intimidation were made against former director David Martin. Martin was eventually terminated. As the board tried to continue its regular functions, the troubles were added to by a special meeting with HUD representatives. Those representatives criticized the board for their internal operations, which included missing the deadline on a capital improvement grant of $250,000.
Recently Parks Director Neil Coulston was picked to lead as interim director while the board searches for a permanent replacement for director. At the time, member of the board Juan Ganum said that the board was waiting on approval by HUD for Coulston, as he is an employee of the city. The hope was to get Coulston into the temporary position in order to get the board back on track and get things done, including applying for an extension given for the capital improvement grant. Approval for Coulston has yet to be given.
"That's what they're working on now," Eull said. The board is actively looking for a new, permanent director as well as new legal counsel.
No word yet on whether or not anyone is intended to replace Boggs.