LENOIR CITY — The Lenoir City Housing Authority’s board of
directors voted unanimously Thursday night not to renew the
contract for Executive Director Debbie Cook.
The vote follows the release earlier this week of an independent
review of the authority which found numerous deficiencies
ranging from travel policies to excessive spending.
Board Chairman Frank Hahn presented a resolution calling for the
board not to extend Cook’s contract when it ends June 30 and not
to enter into another contract with the next executive director.
“I don’t find the need for a contract for anyone in this
position,” Hahn said. Hahn suggested that the board continue to
investigate irregularities within the authority and reiterated
the position of Lenoir City Attorney Jim Scott, who advocated
the matter be turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation .
“We don’t know where this will lead,” he said.
The board reviewed the findings of an audit of expenses by Cook
and the authority, including a door that was supposed to cost
$850 but ended up costing $3,400, employees filling up their gas
tanks and charging it to the authority and numerous instances of
per diem travel expenses that were paid even though the
conferences attended provided meals.
Board member David Martin said he was very surprised by the
review. “Keep in mind that this is an 18-month report. I’d hate
to see a five-year report,” he said. Martin likened the paying
of reimbursements for meals when they were provided as “the same
as taking something from Walmart without paying for it.” Hahn
agreed, saying “you can’t double dip.”
Other findings of deficiencies included a six-day stay in Miami
for a four-day conference, expenses for trips to Nashville and
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. In one case, two meals were
charged to the authority while on a trip to Knoxville to buy
curtains for the director’s office.
Cook, who is currently on medical leave, said she has not had
time to review all the deficiencies listed in the report. On
Monday, when the report was presented to City Council, she said
she was not impressed with the audit’s findings.
She said on Thursday there were explanations for many of the
issues cited. For example, an employee that attended conferences
and was reimbursed for meals is a diabetic who cannot always eat
the meals offered at the conference.
She said that in her 25 years working for the Lenoir City
Housing Authority she has always tried to do the best for the
city’s residents.
“Those who know me know that I’ve done my best,” she said.