Commission Chairman Questions Housing Authority Board Appointment

Budget commission chairman is questioning an East Providence Housing Authority board appointment made by Mayor Bruce Rogers.

According to Michael O'Keefe, the re-appointment of the board's newest member, John Faria, was made in the city clerk's office two days after the budget commission was appointed last December. O'Keefe said state statute reads board appointments should be approved by the commission during last Thursday's meeting.

O'Keefe looked into the matter after he received an in-person complaint from an East Providence resident.

Mayor Bruce Rogers saw the situation differently. He said the appointment was well within legal boundaries as state law reads that mayors can appoint members to housing authority boards.

Mayor Rogers said he was not going to budge on the issue and would get his lawyer to contest the validity of his actions. 

"Bring your A game," said O'Keefe in the meeting.

"Oh, I've got A game," replied Rogers, adding he would be consulting with legal council.

This is East Providence's first mayoral appointment in 14 years, said O'Keefe.

After the meeting, Mayor Rogers said he made the appointment due to timing issues and that acting outside precendent shouldn't be an issue.

"I did something that hadn't been done before," he said. "Maybe if more people acted like that in the past, there wouldn't be a budget commission here."

Budget commission members are expected to discuss the issue at next week's meeting.