The Metropolitan Housing Alliance board in Little Rock canceled Thursday's monthly meeting without explanation.
Administrative services assistant Jada Johnson sent out the cancellation notice Wednesday afternoon. Reached by phone shortly after, Johnson said she didn't know why the meeting was canceled or who made the decision. She said either Executive Director Rodney Forte or Director of Administrative Services Marshall Nash would have to answer those questions.
Forte didn't return phone calls or emails Wednesday or Thursday. Nash responded to emails Thursday but did not answer questions about why the meeting was canceled.
Housing Board Chairman Kenyon Lowe also did not return phone calls or an email Thursday.
Commissioner Brad Walker, the only one of five housing board members who could be reached Thursday, said he didn't know why the meeting was called off.
Ward 2 City Director Ken Richardson, liaison between the housing board and the city's Board of Directors, said he asked the agency why the meeting was canceled, but received no response.
"To me, it's somewhat disconcerting to have a last-minute cancellation without any explanation. If my memory serves me correct, this is the first time this has happened without any explanation since I've been the liaison," Richardson said Thursday.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported earlier this month that the housing alliance revived a $92,000 deputy executive director position this year while all agency employees are on furlough and 13 lower-level positions, many of which deal with tenants, remain unfilled. Forte declined to comment on the agency's staffing for that article.
Metro on 09/19/2014