The search for an interim executive director to helm the Kyle Housing Authority (KHA) continues as recently appointed members of the board of directors aim to fill the position by year’s end.
By opening the door for applications late last week, the board hopes to find an executive director who will help fix the maligned entity.
Daniel Harper, KHA board chairperson, said the newly appointed board is working on a “few key issues” in the early going.
Hiring an interim executive director to replace Vickie Simpson is top priority for the board, Harper said.
Simpson will depart from the position on Dec. 31; she submitted her resignation to Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers in November. Late last month, the board officially tendered the resignation as one of its first orders of business.
Simpson’s resignation followed a wave of scrutiny that came from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development letter alleging numerous issues with maintenance of homes within two public housing developments in Kyle. The letter also addressed financial and oversight issues within the KHA as well.
Harper said board members Clara Rodriguez and David Salazar were willing to “take on the burden” of tracking down information for the interim executive director.
He said the board collectively agreed to appoint an interim executive director first. Harper said hiring a person full-time requires a “firm understanding of what the position is.” He said the board and the KHA aren’t quite there yet.
“I’m not sure how long a proper search takes. I presume it’s a multi-month-long process,” Harper said. “We don’t have that kind of time or expertise. We need someone that can take over the day-to-day and let the dust settle.”
Two people have submitted resumes to the board for consideration as the KHA executive director, Harper said.
In addition, the board continues to familiarize itself with operations of the KHA. Harper said board members are going through a “steep learning curve” to understand the authority.
That includes getting familiar with the “key players,” and understanding the differences between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Harper said once they accomplish those goals, the board can then “start to engage on what happened in the past and where we want to go in the future.”
