SHAMOKIN - The Shamokin Housing Authority offered its apologies to the media for shutting them out in the cold during a special meeting of the board on Feb. 3
In remarks made Thursday evening during the authority board's regular meeting, board chairman Raymond Splane talked about the Feb. 3 special meeting and a situation in which the public and the press were made to wait outside during an hour-long executive session in 20-degree weather. During a second meeting, with union representatives, executive director Ron Miller and solicitor James Rosini sat in a warm office.
"We apologize for the way it was handled," Splane said. "We could not let the public into the offices because of the confidential information that was handled there."
As far as the public being outside, Splane said that many of those in attendance were told in error to be there for a meeting with the board and the union.
"We are going to make sure that something like that will not happen again," Splane said.
The chairman also addressed recent criticism directed at him in The News-Item's Sound Off column.
"Some people have said that it is a conflict of interest considering my ownership of the former railroad land and the action the housing authority has against Red Gold," Splane said, "When the land was bought up by myself and other individuals, we deeded it off, piece by piece, the railroad land."
Splane said that the land next to the Center City Apartments is deeded to Red Gold owner Eugene Picarella and will not be included in any foreclosure action the authority takes.
In other business, the authority board discussed parking issues at the Raspberry Hill housing complex. Recently, a number of vehicles, believed to be that of non-renters, have been parked in an area designated for renters only.
Splane reported that residents will be issued parking decals for their vehicles and police will monitor those vehicles without decals, who are not parked in the newly-created visitors parking area.