Paul Bass Photo
The housing authority’s Board of Commissioners voted to raise its executive director’s salary to $172,276 three years into a five-year contract.
The unanimous vote took place at the board’s regular meting Tuesday afternoon at the Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) headquarters at 360 Orange St.
Authority Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton (at right in photo, at a recent press conference on addressing childhood trauma) was originally given a two-year contract in 2008 when she took over the job from Jimmy Miller, currently the deputy director for special projects. Her contract was renewed in 2010 for five more years, with the salary negotiable in each of the third, fourth, and fifth years.
Tuesday’s vote was the result of that negotiation.
Thomas MacMillan File Photo
Jimmy Miller (pictured) currently serves as the authority’s deputy director for special projects. The board Tuesday night voted to raise his salary, too, from $162,579 to $170,708. (That figure includes money for which Ansonia’s and Bridgeport’s housing authorities reimburse HANH for time Miller has been spending as an interim director.)
In evaluating Miller DuBois-Walton cited the success of Brookside redevelopment project, where construction has been completed; the near completion of 122 Wilmot Avenue elderly and commercial complex, and the emerging reconfiguration of Farnam Townhouses
When Miller’s raise was voted on, commissioner Matthew Short said, “Jimmy’s presence is very important. His work is impressive.”
DuBois-Walton’s raise, the only other position whose salary requires HANH board approval, was discussed in executive session and then announced afterwards at the reconvened public meeting.
Board Chair Erik Clemons called her work “phenomenal.” Yul Watley, who grew up in the Elm Haven projects and later launched among the first resident-owned businesses, said of DuBois-Walton: “She’s the most resident-friendly director” in his experience.
“I love this work,” DuBois-Walton said.
Before the meeting, DuBois-Walton exchanged a brief Q & A with the The Independent. Here are highlights.
Over the past year what are you proudest of achieving?
DuBois-Walton: I am most proud when we accomplish things that directly improve the lives of our residents. These have included implementing the site based offices, rebuilding Brookside,122 Wilmot Rd., and the new Residences at Rowe, and launching our youth initiative. Through the youth initiative I have been pleased to see my vision of Youth Leadership Councils launched and greatly expanded youth employment and after-school activities.
I love opportunities I create to get out of the office and directly interact with residents.Over the past year you may have seen me at community cook-outs, read-aloud days, doing ZUMBA with residents or doing non-partisan voter registration. I look forward to being in our communities talking with residents and hearing the “good” and the “bad.”
Where do you see the areas that are still most challenging?
The economy presents a challenge for our residents who are actively engaged in our Family Self-Sufficiency program building their job readiness and job skills. After working so hard, it is frustrating to see work-ready residents unable to find employment at the level for which they have been trained.
Secondly, federal cuts make it difficult to meet the need for affordable housing. Our wait-list includes thousands of families, many of whom have waited years for housing. We simply do not have enough vouchers or units to meet the needs. It is heartbreaking to receive the calls and inquiries of families in desperate need for affordable housing and to not be able to house them.
Finally, our attempts to build community with our neighbors in Hamden remain a challenge well worth the effort invested.
What’s on the top of your list to accomplish during your next tour of duty?
Investing in our youth is the surest way to break the cycle of poverty. I am excited to continue to partner with the New Haven Public Schools to improve school readiness, school achievement, and college readiness for our children.
I want to see completion of our major redevelopemnt activities that crate homes and communities that work: Rockview, Ribicoff Cottages, and Farnam developments.
I hope to be an effective advocate to ensure the continuation of the Moving to Work program including getting our contract re-authorized beyond 2018.
Do you see the upcoming change of [New Haven’s mayoral] administration having an effect on HANH’s portfolio or way of doing business?
I expect a lot of change simply because the current administration has worked with HANH for the past 20 years. There’s a familiarity there that allows us to “cut to the chase” quite quickly. Any new administration will need to learn what and how we do things. I hope to see a continued level of commitment to developing the kinds of communities that we know work for residents.
Any anecdote that you recall that speaks to you about what the work is about at heart?
Just recently I had the pleasure of sitting with two residents who told a pretty hostile crowd about the importance of affordable housing. One spoke of abandoning her dreams for being a registered nurse when she lost her eyesight. This was followed by the breakup of her marriage. She spoke passionately about how public housing had saved her life and that she didn’t know where she would be without it.
A second mother spoke of how illness led to the loss of her job as an RN and the break up of her marriage. She reminded the crowd that you never know what twists and turns may occur in your life that will lead you to public housing an dhow thankful she is for it.
These and many other stories are why we do what we do!