Miscommunication causes Housing Authority vote delay

NORWALK, Conn. – A miscommunication between the mayor’s office and the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners caused a planned vote Tuesday for a new commissioner to be scrapped.

Diedra Davis of the Roodner Court Tenants Association and a Democratic candidate for an at-large Common Council seat, told NancyOnNorwalk that the planned vote was canceled because the mayor’s office mistakenly thought that Commissioner Bernadine Tatem’s five-year term had not yet expired. Tatum’s term was up May 31.

Mayor Richard Moccia disputed that in an email response to NoN.

“Not true,” he said. “There was no mistaken idea. (Housing Commission Executive Director) Mr. (Curtis) Law requested information on the expiration date of Ms. Tatum’s term. She happens to serve on two boards, Housing Authority and Fair Housing. Her term on Fair Housing ran until 2015. Her term on housing expired in May of 2013. Erin (Herring, city clerk) gave the date for Fair Housing instead of Housing Authority on Friday. Once it was clarified, Mr. Law was advised on Monday. It was Mr. Law’s decision to cancel the election.”