Medford Housing Authority Director's Status Remains Up in the Air

The Medford Housing Authority is in negotiations to end Robert Covelle's turn as its executive director, authority officials said Tuesday.

But it isn't clear when those negotiations will end.

"I hope soon," authority commissioner Sylviajean Baumeister said Tuesday. "But I have no idea when."

Covelle has been under scrutiny since a federal audit report released in April raised issues with the authority's financial practices. Shortly after the audit, reports surfaced that Covelle allegedly hired close friends and family for jobs and contracts.

Since then, Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Michael McGlynn have both called for Covelle to resign, and the City Council voted no confidence in him. The housing authority is a separate body from Medford municipal government.

Covelle has been on unpaid leave since April 30, but has admitted to no wrongdoing.

The authority's board of commissioners was expected to discuss Covelle's job status with him in a meeting Tuesday night, but lawyers for the authority and its executive director remained in negotations and the discussion did not happen, Baumeister said. Covelle did not attend the meeting.

Commissioner Michael Luongo said he thought negotiations were going in the right direction.

"I think we're on the right track," he said Tuesday. "It might kind of windy track, but it's the right one."

The commission's next scheduled meeting is on Wednesday, June 13, but they could call an emergency meeting before then to discuss Covelle's status.

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