Scranton Housing Authority seeks outside review of operations, finances
The board voted 4-0 — with Chairwoman Sarah Cruz, Megan Alpert, Julie Schumacher Cohen and Michael Hanley all in favor — at its regular monthly meeting Monday to issue a formal request for proposals, called an RFP, for a consultant to review the organizational structure and operation of the Scranton Housing Authority, according to a video of the meeting by Electric City Television posted on YouTube.
A consultant would 'look at the operations and finances of the housing authority holistically, to see what else needs to be done going forward with this organization to continue to move it to a place of greater solvency and transparency,' Cruz said.
It's the latest issue raised by the board that now has a majority of new members recently appointed by Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti.
Scranton Housing Authority members, from left, Julie Schumacher Cohen, Chairwoman Sarah Cruz and Michael Hanley, during their monthly board meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2024. SHA members Devendrabhi Dave and Megan Alpert participated in the meeting remotely, via phone. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
The new board in December and January dealt with proposing and enacting a rent increase at the financially struggling Park Gardens apartment complex, which is unique within the SHA. At a special meeting Jan. 13 when the board adopted the rent increase, members described Park Gardens as having long been mismanaged, with no policies, procedures or income-verification on who gets to live there. Admissions were based on favoritism. 'Throughout the years, it is I think well known in the city that individuals are given preference (for residency at Park Gardens) based on who they know,' Cruz had said at the Jan. 13 special meeting.
The Scranton Housing Authority held a special meeting Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 to raise rents at the Park Gardens apartment complex in Green Ridge. From left are board members Michael Hanley, Julie Schumacher Cohen, Megan Alpert and Sarah Cruz, seated at a table in the basement of St. Clare Church, where the meeting was held. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
At its meeting Monday, authority Executive Director Karl Lynott said the SHA is creating a new application process for apartment rentals at Park Gardens. The board also reiterated that the authority had received last month an unsolicited offer from a realty firm to buy Park Gardens, but the apartment complex is not for sale and the offer was rejected.
A view of Park Gardens in Scranton Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Scranton Housing Authority operates 11 rental facilities or complexes, as well as scattered apartments, throughout the city. Park Gardens is the only SHA complex without a low-income threshold for residency. The other 10 and the scattered apartments operate under federal Housing and Urban Development rules and regulations.
As for the board now looking to hire an outside consultant to review SHA operations and finances, Schumacher Cohen said such an evaluation is necessary.
'I think we received a lot of feedback' at the Jan. 13 special meeting, Cohen said. 'There's interest in transparency and also looking at best practices, just getting ideas from other communities.'
Hanley added, 'Hopefully as we move forward there will be more confidence from the public on what is actually happening here with the Scranton Housing Authority as we become more and more transparent.'
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