The city council approved the removal of three commissioners of the Yazoo City Housing Authority Board this week.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to replace Commissioners John Meeks, Dawn Gainwell-Dodd and Richard Griffin. The council voted to let Commissioners Mamie Williams and Danny Neely to remain on the housing board.
Ward 3 Alderman Sir Johnathan Rucker, who has opposed the commissioners’ removal from the beginning, recused himself from Tuesday’s meeting.
The city council plans to send notification letters to the three members being removed. But four hours after its special call meeting when the action was taken, Gainwell-Dodd submitted a letter of resignation from the housing board effective Tuesday.
“Because of threats (physical and verbal) and other conflicts, please accept this letter as an official notice to resign from the position as commissioner of the Yazoo City Housing Authority .... effective this day September 4, 2018,” Gainwell-Dodd’s letter states.
The latest action surrounding the Housing Authority Board comes on the heels of “grave concerns” from the city council. All five members of the Housing Authority board appeared before the city council last month to address concerns over its board minutes and credit card discrepancies.
City leaders had concerns over the Housing Authority’s failure to provide and record board minutes, the fabrication of a December meeting’s board minutes and credit card discrepancies.
The Yazoo Herald has also submitted a public records request for the past 12 months of credit card statements. The Housing Authority has until Sept. 20 to release those statements, which are considered public record, to The Yazoo Herald. As of press time, no statements had been delivered to The Yazoo Herald.
It has been publicly stated in open meetings that individuals who are not Housing Authority employees or members of the Housing Authority received airline tickets. Charges were also applied to upgrade seats to a better class. Concern has also been voiced over the payment of $1,700 for a private retirement party for a former Housing Authority employee.
