AUGUSTA, Maine — Following Tuesday’s resignation of Maine Housing Authority Executive Director Dale McCormick, the chairman of the agency’s board of directors said they’ll be looking for one thing: information.
“We’ll talk to the staff, find out who works on what, what resources they have, what’s the return,” said Peter Anastos, a well-known developer and hotelier who was appointed to head the board last fall by Gov. Paul LePage. “We think we can save a lot of money, run it way more efficiently and hopefully get a lot more people served. I think we’ll get there relatively quickly.”
McCormick’s resignation capped a tumultuous half-year at the housing agency. Both the agency and McCormick, a holdover appointment from former Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, have been targets of increased scrutiny and criticism from conservative groups and new members of the board appointed by LePage.
On Tuesday at a board meeting, McCormick read from a statement that the agency “has been subjected to a systematic attack that’s ground the important work of the agency nearly to a halt.” She said she resigned reluctantly, hoping to bring an end to the “campaign against an agency that so ably serves low- and middle-income Mainers.”
Board meetings had grown increasingly contentious, as it became obvious that both McCormick and Anastos were frustrated with their exchanges.
On Wednesday, Anastos said he and the new board members had difficulty getting information about MaineHousing operations from its leadership. Anastos said he thought information would be easier to obtain going forward. Peter Merrill, director of communications and planning, was appointed acting director by the board.
“I think the other people are going to be fine to work with,” Anastos said.
A priority will be to get a new executive director hired. That position is appointed by the governor and approved by the Legislature.
“I haven’t talked with the governor directly, but I have talked to people in his office. I’m encouraging them to hire someone who’s truly qualified in the field,” Anastos said. “It’s extremely important we don’t put somebody in there who is just a political appointment. I think the governor’s office is on the same page as us on that.”
He acknowledged that it might be difficult to find the “perfect person” for a job that entails everything from knowledge of the bonds market to housing construction details.
Anastos said as the board gets more information about the department; he expects the public to see more transparency there, and a “more business-like atmosphere.” And, he said, the goal would be to focus more closely on the department’s basic mission to provide housing for low-income Mainers.
Much of the friction between old guard and new came over policies that had been approved and encouraged by past Legislatures and boards. These included qualifiers for bid proposals that gave extra points for companies that provided training opportunities and insurance to workers, for example.
One area that Anastos expressed frustration over Wednesday was a carbon-trading program that MaineHousing was operating. It had been difficult to get answers about the program, he said.
“Frankly, selling carbon may be good. I don’t have the information to truly know. But it seems like you’re going off on a venture capital thing — and is that the role of a housing agency?” Anastos said. “Basically, we’ll get down to a simple, simple mission and do it for as many people as well as we can do it.”
In McCormick’s statement, she noted that there had been “substantial disagreement” with new board members over the policies and direction of MaineHousing. At Tuesday’s meeting, prior to announcing her resignation, McCormick strongly disputed statements made by Anastos and state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, who also serves on the MaineHousing board, about the carbon offset program, in particular, and their characterizations about her responses to cost inquiries, in general.
“You are inflating numbers and you know it,” McCormick said, expressing the additional frustration over what she characterized as the tendency of some board members to cast doubt on information provided them whenever it doesn’t support their position.
Anastos said the board would be looking closely at costs. Groups such as the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center have criticized the money MaineHousing spent on travel, conferences and on other services.
“We spent nearly $1 million on travel and education in 2010 — a million dollars,” Anastos said.
He said the board hoped to put as much money as possible to providing housing for low-income Mainers. He said he believed they’d be able to do that, but they needed to get a full understanding of the agency, first.
“We know the onus is on us now — we’ve got to deliver, we’ve got to get a strong executive director,” Anastos said.
Big government seems to grow with these the admin. The head of housing was treated like a criminal, I hope she can forget about this and move on. The MHPC should not be running our Maine Business..
The fact that Dale McCormick resigned should not be placed on the shoulders of MHPC or The Maine Wire. They only brought forth the information that brought to light the way money was/ is being spent at MSHA. Dale McCormick and previous Directors are the ones responsible for the end result. They set policy and created the tone and philosophy as to how the agency was to be run and the overall agenda. The sad fact is money that could have been put to better use helping those in need was being utilized to support pet projects, expensive “trainings” all around the country and wellness days and bonuses for MSHA employees. MSH needs to reinvent itself. They will need to bring down their administration costs and take a long hard look at spending two to three hundred thousand dollars for each unit of low income housing. I do not think the family that has been on a waiting list for months for affordable housing cares if the hot water heaters are solar powered or the training programs or benefits offered by the contractors building said housing to their employees, they just want affordable and safe housing. The agency needs to make a strong commitment to fully support the people they serve in the most efficient, professional and effective way possible.
Democrats…should be called Corruptocrats…
Too bad they want to deflect the corruption that has accrued over the years and attack those doing the cleanup.
Ha! I wonder how many “Depends” can be produced and sold by Mr. Nutting at four times cost out of 10 acres of Mr. Poliquin’s tree farm? Probably a lot more than would fit in both State vehicles driven by two of Mr. LePages relatives. Guess corruption is a matter of perspective huh?
A million dollars for travel and education in a department the size of Maine Housing? They have lost their way. Time for this liberal hack to go. Sucks to be one of their employees who will now have to do without neck massages, day trips to LGBTQ friendly B and Bs, and criminal puppet shows. Why that amount of money could buy 4 luxury one bedroom apartment spaces for low income residents or 20 perfectly fine units if you let a sane person run the show. Now let’s see about Mr. Nutting’s affair. The mental giants at DHS closed him down, and their heavy-handed collection efforts forced him into bankruptcy. If they would have let him pay back the overpayments more gradually, he would still be in business, the state would have received its money, and he probably would be running the pharmacy that employed 20 people and not be speaker of the house today, how you like them apples? P.S , the dude must be a genius, I mean like mensa smart to figure out a way to make money serving Mainecare customers and not wind up in jail. Has governor LePage violated any nepotism rules in the employment of his daughter and his BIL? If so, don’t you think that you should report this to the federal authorities?
I still love your ID here. Thanks for the compliment!
Let me get this straight. You support a man overcharging Mainecare (State program which we all pay for) four times the cost of an item, a rich man avoiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes on one of the priciest pieces of realestate in Maine by pretending to use another State program, and your State’s leader hiring family members on the backs of taxpayers because of course no one around here ever thought someone would ever do anything so repulsive to voters (i.e. Never made a “rule” against it )? Is that about right? Yikes! No wonder I’ve always been a Democrat. Actually I’m now thinking thank goodness for the level of insanity being shown by this administration. It’ll bring them to their demise that much sooner (November 6th) rather than later.
I am enjoying some product of distillation right now, and the name is in homage to you, as one of the most sane liberals who post here. Many of the others are too fragile or hot headed to have fun sparring with. I do not support him overcharging Mainecare, I was just pointing out the irony that if the state would have compromised a bit more in allowing him to pay back the overages more gradually, which many smart people advised DHS to do, he probably would be running his little business today and not be speaker of the house. But nooo, the leaders at DHS needed to bully him, and now as a result, he gets to bully them. I work at a much smaller organization with a lot fewer rules than the state, and we have a nepotism policy. I’ll wager a wee dram of the Dalmore that the state has a policy too, and the Governor isn’t breaking it. Poliquin, I agree, he seems shifty, but i don’t know enough about him to be sure.
I haven’t exactly seen the TeaPublicans gaining the high ground or taking the high road. Frankly, the level of corruption in GOP circles eclipses that of the Democrats exponentially.
just ask the ron paul campaign haha.
Solar is not what I meant. All contractors have to have insuance even on Private houses. Contracting has come casualties invloved. The most important feature of public housing is spinkler system which are definitely worth it. Ia ma aginst an outside group running the legis. The legislature should be smart enough to figure things out. If the dems are not wanted.. I understand that too.
The training and travel costs alone are inexcusable. State employees have had severe travel restrictions for years, but it was her little fiefdom.
Carbon credits ? That’s one of Obama’s scams. Was the legislature aware that MSHA was involved in carbon offset credits ? No doubt Gov.Baldacci was, but was that part of MSHA “below the surface”…?
The idea of Carbon Credits as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions actually was first officially adopted in 1997 at an international conference, and isn’t an “Obama scam.” Although I highly doubt that any actual facts would stop you from blaming Obama.
What do you bet the governoe appoints his brother-in-law? After all he has a building background. Just makes me wonder since he was put in a position in an agency that’s going away!!!
I am thinking that Anastos doesn’t understand what the responsibilities of a Board are — they are not to talk to the staff and figure out who does what and the return. The Executive Director is responsible for the daily functions of an operation and reports back to the Board. The Executive Director reports the results of each program, etc. My goodness, who are these people on the Boards? The Maine Turnpike Authority Board didn’t ask any questions or take any responsibility. This Board wants to manage the agency. Someone should be providing training to these Boards so they know what their responsibilities are.
I’ll agree with you that any board’s functions should not include the day-to-day operations of any department…that’s why organizations have directors/management – to oversee the details of the operation. However, when you say that ” The Maine Turnpike Authority Board didn’t ask any questions or take any responsibility” that’s not entirely true. They asked questions, but were usually put off or given a snow job by Violette(the admitted crook).
When I first served on a Board, I took an independent training course as to my responsibilities as a Board member. I was, quite frankly, shocked at what my responsibilities were, and the fact that I could be liable in that capacity. Now, management tried to down play that training, however, all of us on the Board took our jobs very seriously. We didn’t just accept what management was telling us. One of the things that bothered me about the MTA Board was that they didn’t even have the auditors come before them. This is just one example of a Board that does not know its responsibilities.
You wondered what they were going to do with those left-over FEMA trailers, now you know-the GOP MaineHousing solution.
I wonder if the new power structure will be scrutinized as the outgoing one has been?
“I haven’t talked with the governor directly, but I have talked to
people in his office. I’m encouraging them to hire someone who’s truly
qualified in the field,” Anastos said.
Doesn’t the Gubnor have another relative from Florida to fill this position or Is this why he went to Jamaica to bring back his fake “son” to fill the position. OTOH I am sure if he looks hard enough the wife might just be the perfect candidate.! LMAO!
Let the Chairman become the new Executive Director. After 6 months, ask him if he feels the same way that he does now.
Crystal ball time – We are going to be reading the same thing here after the next State leadership change in 2014: the people, policies, and practices of the current LePage regime will be lambasted as inefficient, corrupt, without direction, blah blah blah. Just like we are reading about now.
Meet the new boss – same as the old boss.
“We’ll talk to the staff, find out who works on what, what resources they have, what’s the return,” said Peter Anastos,”…He’s chairman of the board and he doesn’t know? Doesn’t take his LePage appointment very seriously, does he?
I guess you missed the part where DM wasn’t very forthcoming with info.
So he just threw up his hands and said OK. That’s great leadership.
Time to close the whole agency. It never was anything more than a full employment program for party hacks.
Cut the grass short and the snakes won’t have anywhere to hide.
It should be very quick to start saving. At $265,000 to $315,000 per unit for section eight is mind numbing. I know doctors and lawyers whose homes are not worth that.
Dale McCormick’s tenure exemplified a growing problem with government
bureaucracy in America; she and others of her ilk identify their constituents
as the recipients of their services which is not only incorrect but dangerous.
McCormack constituency was and always should have been the Maine taxpayer, the
governor and the legislature. She should have been, as should all government
agency heads, a good steward of the state’s tax dollars. Her lack
of accepting that truism it what led her and often leads others to the make
excuses for waste and bad decision making.