U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into Providence Housing Authority
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is calling on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to launch an investigation into the Providence Housing Authority (PHA) after accusations made by an employee.
Last month, PHA executive administrative officer Elizabeth Herosy sent a 37 page complaint that includes allegations of “serious misconduct, fraud and perhaps criminal activity” as well as sexual harassment by the agency’s executive director Stephen O’Rourke to the Mayor’s office and various agencies, including the Attorney General’s office, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Labor and Training.
Herosy has filed for protection under the state’s whistleblower law, which protects her from retaliation by her employer or co-workers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGrassley Issues Letter to HUD
On Tuesday, Senator Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan detailing Herosy’s complaints and requesting further information and answers regarding the HUD’s knowledge of the affair.
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is also a member of the Judiciary Committee.
In the letter, Grassley describes all of the accusations made against O’Rourke, including alleged sexual harassment and pornography, lack of oversight and effectiveness of the Board of Commissioners, exorbitant travel and retreat expenses, nepotism, and non-regulated use of nonprofit affiliates.
Grassley requests that the HUD provide documents pertaining to each one of the claims, including travel records, hiring records, financial documents including salary information and billing statements, and employment contracts.
He attached the billing statements from the PHA’s 2010 and 2011 retreats in Sandwich, MA on Cape Cod for reference. Those retreats cost nearly $9,200 and nearly $10,600 respectively, which included room costs, royale buffets, breakfasts, lunches, dinner, wine, and open bars.
Grassley requested that HUD respond to the letter by April 13, 2012, and that the Inspector General commit to fully investigating the matter.
Reviews Underway
Earlier this month a HUD spokesman confirmed that an “extensive” review of the agency was already underway. In addition, the PHA’s Board of Commissioners voted late last month to hire an independent lawyer to investigate Herosy’s allegations and Mayor Angel Taveras has asked the City Solicitor to work with investigative authorities. The matter has also been referred to the state police.
Claiming that her five-year tenure at the PHA has been marred by “hostile, offensive and extremely stressful” working conditions, Herosy is accusing O’Rourke of “gross misconduct” including sexual and other types of harassment as well discrimination that has resulted in her not receiving any promotions.
“I have been discriminated against and I feel intimidated in this workplace, and have been denied wage increases, promotions for which I have been imminently qualified, access to apply for any promotions for which I have been qualified, pay and benefits that others receive, compensation for hours that I have been forced to work as ordered by the executive director, access to education and training programs, morning and afternoon coffee breaks and normal lunch breaks,” Herosy claims.
Several days after her filing her first complaint, Herosy filed an addendum to add more accusations. In an e-mail to GoLocalProv, O’Rourke said that he had been advised not to comment but that he was certain he will be cleared of all wrongdoing.
“I have seen her addendum to her original and can say they are even more preposterous than the first,” he said. “However, since there is an internal review about to begin, I am at a disadvantage and told not to comment.”
If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.