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Eunice aldermen remove four members of Housing Authority after tenant complaints
Summary
The Eunice Board of Aldermen voted Sept. 10 to remove four members of the Eunice Housing Authority following public complaints about closed meetings and alleged preferential treatment of the authority’s executive director; removals cited La. Rev. Stat. 40:537(A)(1).
The Eunice Board of Aldermen voted Sept. 10 to remove four members of the Eunice Housing Authority after several speakers during public comment raised concerns about the authority’s handling of tenant issues and the board’s use of closed meetings.
Tenant Angela Simien told the council that, in her view, most board members “support the Housing Authorities’ Executive Director and not the tenants when it comes to increase in rent and evictions.” Board member Kevin Johnwell, Sr. said he had tried to learn the authority’s policies but that “his questions were not answered and he was made to feel uncomfortable if he asked any questions.”
Chairman David Guillory, who said he has served on the housing board for two years and as chairman for three months, read from the board handbook and discussed requirements under the state’s Sunshine Laws for special meetings. Other board members who spoke — Roland Miller and Ronald Dies — said they had intervened in tenant issues since their appointments and described limits on board authority: Dies emphasized that the board “cannot” direct day-to-day management, saying he treats allegations by focusing on factual information.
Alderwoman Germaine Simpson raised the council’s concern about complaints alleging that housing authority meetings were closed to tenants and that policy votes were taken outside public view. Simpson moved to remove four members — Ronald Dies, David Guillory, Kevin Johnwell Sr., and Roland Miller — from the Eunice Housing Authority Board pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:537(A)(1). Each motion was seconded by Alderman at Large Marion “Nootsie” Sattler and was carried by the board.
The statute cited allows removal in certain circumstances under state law; the council did not specify replacement appointees during the meeting. The minutes do not record any separate hearing or extended evidentiary findings before the removals. The council took the action as part of its regular meeting on Sept. 10 and moved on to other agenda items after the votes.
