Director Resigns from East Windsor Housing Authority

East Windsor Housing Authority Executive Director Jennifer DiMauro resigned from her position Monday evening during a highly charged meeting of the agency.

Journal Inquirer reporter Gail Monteny wrote that DiMauro resigned by storming out of the meeting, which had turned contentious over a number of issues brought up by three recently appointed Housing Authority commissioners: Marie DeSousa, John Burnham, and Elizabeth LeBorious.

According to the Journal Inquirer, the three criticized DiMauro for, among other things, the delay in submitting the agency’s 2013-14 budget and for her comments made in an article concerning the agency’s claim that it overpaid at least $200,000 over a period of 30 years to the town. The latter is the subject of a legal issue between the town and the authority.

The meeting reached a fever pitch, however, when a resident of Park Hill  - an 84-unit low-income, elderly housing complex that the authority owns and manages - passed out pamphlets complaining about an order for him to lock his unit.

When DiMauro said the resident’s complaint was a legal matter that was not suited for the meeting, several others in attendance complained, the Journal Inquirer reported.

That’s when DiMauro walked out, stating, “You’ve got your way. I quit,” according to the Journal Inquirer.

It’s something that does not sit well with Pauline Legassie, the agency’s chairman and Park Hill’s tenant representative.

“They crucified [DiMauro],” Legassie said.

DiMauro, who has worked for the agency for four years, brought the housing authority back from the brink of financial ruin, Legassie said.

“She kept us from being taken over by the state,” Legassie said in a telephone interview.

In addition, DiMauro helped lower electric bills for residents and cleaned up units, which now have new windows and doors.

“The property is now worth $1 million,” Legassie said.

Legassie said that Burnham, DeSousa and LeBorious gave too much credence to a few Park Hill residents who were known to complain about anything.

“We have some people who, no matter what you do for them, if something happens, they’ll turn on you,” Legassie said. “This board is listening to them.”

Going forward, DiMauro will remain on for three weeks, according to Legassie, to tie up loose ends.

After that, Legassie said that she is concerned about how Park Hill will be managed.

“When [DiMauro] goes, this place is going to fall apart; there’s nobody to fill her shoes,” Legassie said.

Little was said about DiMauro’s resignation at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday evening.

First Selectman Denise Menard supported the commissioners on the authority.

“I think we’ve got some hard-working commissioners on the housing authority and I’m thankful they are there,” she said.