PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Housing Authority spent Tuesday afternoon seeking to clarify and explain recent changes in leadership and alleged mismanagement.
At the PHA offices, interim CEO Damon Duncan and Board of Commissioners Chairman Kadar Heffner answered questions about the announcements and the investigations into the irregularities.
Last week, the organization announced that it fired its CFO over alleged financial irregularities, and in the same announcement, revealed the departure of its CEO, Armeca Crawford. The organization says the two changes were not connected.
Heffner says Crawford submitted her resignation in October, occurring before the financial irregularities were found. Her final day as CEO was February 6th.
Not many new details regarding the CFO’s firing were revealed. One piece of new information was Duncan stating that the amount allegedly missing was “less than five figures.”
In response, Duncan says PHA is implementing measures, such as separation of duties, enhanced reporting, and executive level of reviews. He says an independent commission will also review internal financial controls.
“Our goal is not only to address the issue but to emerge stronger as an organization,” Duncan said.
Duncan also addressed alleged allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment in the workplace, saying that behavior is “unacceptable.” He says PHA is reviewing all HR complaints and establishing an anonymous complaint channel.
Duncan says the organization did not find evidence of misused tenant funds, but is also conducting an independent review of those funds.
PHA will be looking for a long-term CEO, with Duncan stating that he did not want the job in a full-time role. A national search will be conducted.
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