Peekskill Housing Board Loses Another Member

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. – The city’s public housing board is down another member following the resignation of appointed member Joanna Dunn.

Dunn resigned from the board last month, according to acting City Manager Brian Havranek. Dunn is the second appointed member to resign this summer, following the resignation of Karen Watson.

The resignation leaves the board with just three of its seven seats filled. Two tenant member seats are also vacant.

Dunn, who started on the board earlier this summer, did not give a reason for her resignation, Havranek said.

Dunn had been a supporter of Executive Director Harold Phipps, while Watson and current board member Don Bennett, a member of both the housing board and city council, have been critical of him.  

Board Chair Ron Abad resigned in December and was replaced by Leyla Ditterlizzi, who has been in favor of renewing Phipps’ contract. Ditterlizzi has declined to comment on recent board actions.

With Dunn’s departure, the board is left with Bennett, Ditterlizzi and Pauline Gilchrist. Havranek said he is interviewing possible replacements for the board.

“I have interviewed people,” he said.

The Peekskill Housing authority was scheduled to meet July 19 but that meeting was canceled without explanation several days before it was to take place. There is no meeting scheduled until Sept. 20.

 

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