Housing authority tables seven-month leave request for resident services coordinator heading to police academy

The Housing Authority Board voted to table a request from resident services coordinator Joey De Silva for an unpaid seven-month leave of absence to attend the police academy, with staff asked to return next month with details about any applicable caps on leave duration.

The request matters because the coordinator runs resident programs — including cookouts, movie nights, clinics and youth piano lessons — and the proposed leave would cover the summer months when several seasonal programs occur.

At the meeting the executive director described De Silva as “a very, very valued employee” who “coordinates and runs all of the various cookouts, movie nights, clinics, concert series,” and said De Silva is seeking leave to start the police academy in December; the executive director said the academy runs “about 6 months, and then there's a training period,” and that De Silva was requesting seven months to include the academy plus an on‑the‑job training month. The executive director characterized the requested leave as unpaid.

Board members asked staff to check whether the authority has a cap on unpaid leaves of absence and whether past practice imposed duration limits. One commissioner said, “I don't recall cap, but maybe, we can put it in the minutes. 7 months or the cap, whichever is less.” Another member asked whether the authority would place someone in the position on an interim basis; staff replied they would advertise for an interim appointment if needed.

A motion to table the leave request until staff could confirm any cap and return with the information was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting minutes record the motion as carried; no formal leave was granted at the July session.

The board also discussed temporary coverage needs for summer programming and the possibility of advertising for an interim coordinator. Staff committed to return next month with the applicable policy or charter references and to recommend an interim staffing plan if necessary.