To the editor:

Regarding the Mattapoisett Housing Authority (MHA) article, September 12, “Housing authority responds to ‘mismanagement' allegations.” How would Bob Powilatis, chair of the Wareham Housing Authority, handle the troubling “pattern of mismanagement” and misconduct that has dogged the MHA for years? I bet Mr. Powilatis wouldn’t stick his head in the sand and describe the MHA’s executive director as a “valued” employee who is undergoing “character assassination and slander,” especially, after she was caught red-handed taking state property home.

Sippican Week reported that approximately a dozen tenants attended the housing authority board/tenant meeting; as usual, notice of the meeting was posted at the last minute. Why was the notice posted late? Sousa was in the office all day Monday, another unscheduled work day. Of all the housing authority tenants, only 2 percent spoke in favor of Sousa (1 tenant), which means 98 percent, through their silence, spoke unfavorably about Sousa.

So, let me see if I understand the issues. The executive director rarely arrives at the MHA office as scheduled. A housing authority computer was brazenly removed from the housing authority office by the executive director and taken to her home. Yet, the board of commissioners was caught off guard. Really? Where was the board oversight and supervision?

The executive director takes the computer home often. My mother lives at the MHA’s Village Court, and I have observed the executive director carrying the computer to her car. I think the act of removing a housing authority (state property) computer to one’s home is what Mr. McCullough should call “shameful.” It is shameful and disrespectful to all present MHA tenants, past tenants, and prospective tenants (those with applications on file).

Removing the computer was at the very least a reckless, thoughtless, and outrageous act, if not absolutely criminal. Why? Because, this supposedly “valued” employee exposed senior citizens to identity theft that could ruin their credit history as well as the resulting nightmare caused by it.

The housing authority’s computer holds a tenant’s personal information: names, addresses, birth dates, maiden names, next of kin, social security numbers, saving account numbers, checking account numbers, phone numbers, motor vehicle license tag numbers and vehicle identification numbers, and more – a treasure trove of information for every scam artist in the world. Police always warn seniors to be on the alert for scams. Yet, we have an executive director compromising tenant safety and security. How “shameless” can one be and still keep their job?

Suppose the “valued” employee had her motor vehicle broken into or she was involved in an accident or her home burglarized and the computer was stolen. What then? This stuff happens all the time, check with local police departments. Suppose the executive director took the computer into a restaurant and left it there like she did with another tenant’s housing authority file.

Fortunately, since all the information was in the file, the restaurant manager called the tenant so he could retrieve it. The print press was not used as a pawn in a “larger conspiracy to discredit Louise Sousa” as Mr. McCullough alleges, Sousa did it all by herself. The press did its job and reported the news.

It doesn’t surprise me that Mr. McCullough and Ms. DeMello huff and bluster about a “ploy” by DHCD because all their saber-rattling sounds more like their knees rattling. Their flip flopping, ambivalent leadership has led them to the exact place they never wanted to be, protecting an untrustworthy and soulless executive director.

Everything DHCD, Roberta Tripp and I have said concerning Louise Sousa, the maintenance staff, and the board of commissioners is the truth. So, who is raising these false accusations, planting and fostering rumors, and manipulating information, Mr. McCullough?

I urge discerning taxpayers to go to the June 2013 Office of the State Auditor’s report available on line at: http://www.mass.gov/auditor/docs/audits/2013/201207097h.pdf for an eye popping insight into the “shameful” activities of the executive director and the “shameful” board that is responsible for keeping her in office.

Actions speak louder than words, and so far, by their inaction, the board of commissioners show that they have been the “unresponsive party” not DHCD. And, the reason tenants don’t speak truth to power at meetings is the very real fear of being evicted, being labeled a “troublemaker,” and being ostracized. Bullying at the MHA is a real problem, but that’s an issue for another day.

Sincerely,

Eileen Marum

Roberta Tripp