Providence Housing Director Issues Resignation Letter
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Former Providence Housing Authority executive director Stephen O’Rourke resigned with a “clear conscience” knowing the sexual harassment and financial mismanagement allegations made against him earlier this year were “proven false,” according to the resignation letter he sent to the agency’s board of commissioners earlier this month.
The board voted two weeksago to accept the longtime director’s resignation and pay him a severance package of $250,000. Former General Treasurer Paul Tavares is currently serving as the agency’s interim executive director.
O’Rourke had been on paid administrative leave since April after an employee filed a massive complaint that included claims of “serious misconduct, fraud and perhaps criminal activity” against her boss. Following the complaint, several employees came forward with similar claims, which O’Rourke dismissed as accusations from “disgruntled employees.”GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
But the board decided to hire an independent lawyer to investigate the claims and after several months looking into the matter, the board decided to negotiate a severance package with O’Rourke rather than attempting to terminate him.
O’Rourke has maintained that the investigation cleared him of all but three “little claims” that included taking long lunches with staff members, having pornographic material on his computer (but not distributing it) and making inappropriate comments to employees (he claims he “never said anything that someone wouldn't hear on prime time television”).
In his letter, O’Rourke, who has been credited with helping to transform a nearly-insolvent agency into one of the highest-performing housing authorities in the country, said history will show the Housing Authority “accomplished great things” under his watch
“I have served this housing authority for 25 years,” Most will agree that under my leadership the housing authority was transformed from one of the poorest performing housing authorities in the Nation to one that became the recipient of scores of awards for innovation and administrative excellence. The enviable record of achievement was guided by me but implemented by a group of hard-working and talented colleagues, both past and present. Together we accomplished great things and the historical record will show that.
Dan McGowan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.
