LBHA in turmoil on hiring new director
Commissioners at odds over terms of contract
for next leader
LONG BRANCH — Miscommunica-tion over hiring a new director for the city’s housing authority has created a rift on the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Michael Winnick, who at the time of the decision was acting director and chairman of the Long Branch Housing Authority, said, "I was not part of the process to hire the new executive director."
According to Winnick, he was on vacation and out of the city when the decision was made to hire Ernest Miller, who is the director of the Middletown Housing Authority, and offer him a five-year contract.
Winnick does not have a problem with hiring Miller but is concerned about the terms of the contract.
He said he considered filing an injunction against the authority for offering such a contract, but after speaking to several attorneys who advised him that more information was needed before an injunction was filed, he decided against it.
"It has now become so complex dealing with local and state agencies that more information needs to be ascertained," Winnick said.
The commissioner said he did not understand why he was left out of the negotiations. At the time he was acting director and chairman of the board, performing the duties of a contracting officer and secretary to the board.
"That is not true," Carl Jennings, vice-chairman and commissioner to the authority said of Winnick’s assertion that he was left out of the loop. "We were in phone contact while he (Winnick) was on vacation."
Winnick said that he did receive a phone call on Miller’s hiring while away on vacation, but the only topic of discussion was to add $3,000 to the $100,000 salary that was being offered.
The higher salary ultimately was not part of the contract offer extended to Miller.
Winnick said he agreed to give Miller the additional money because it would be better than expending money for a new search for a new director. But, Winnick added, that no other terms of Miller’s employment were discussed, particularly not those offering him a five-year contract.
Winnick said he is in agreement with hiring Miller but not necessarily on the terms offered.
"The five-year contract," said Winnick, "is not in the best interest of the authority."
He noted that such a lengthy contract would leave the authority obligated to pay Miller his salary until the contract expires.
Although Miller was referred by the Housing and Urban Development agency with excellent credentials Winnick said that former director Bill Lau also came highly recommended but "he (Lau) did not work out well in Long Branch."
Winnick said he would prefer giving Miller a two-year contract with an option for three more years.
"We felt we should hire him because of his qualifications and because of the way he represented himself in front of the board members that he did meet with," said Jennings. "We were pleased with his presentation more than anyone else that has come before us."
According to Jennings, before Miller came to Middletown he was director at the Pittsburgh housing authority, which "will give him good experience to work out well in Long Branch."
Under the terms of the current offer to Miller, he will be guaranteed a salary of $100,000 per year for the next three years with a salary increase at the discretion of the commissioners for the remaining two years of his contract.
While Miller’s contract remains unsettled, other unsettled matters at the authority have put Winnick in a stronger position than when he raised his objections to the terms of the proposed contract.
A resolution to put Randy Phillips in as acting director and chairman after Winnick stepped down Dec. 7 was never voted on.
"We did not feel there was a need to pass the resolution," said Jennings, "because the new director would be starting within a couple of weeks."
As a result Winnick remains chairman.
"There was a lack of communication," said Jennings, "but we are ironing out the differences and moving forward with hiring Miller."
Jennings noted that Miller is not yet officially signed on and that the contract is still being negotiated by representing attorneys.