By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Tensions within the Niles Housing Commission came to an aggravated boil Tuesday when executive director David Martin was suspended with pay after a vote by the Housing Commission board.
The suspension came after allegations were made following the commission's meeting on May 13, that Martin made a request to board member Jessica Millar to make change in the minutes of that meeting.
According to the allegations made, Martin's actions were those of intimidation – which led the board to review his actions and vote on his suspension.
"We're just going to investigate the allegations," said Scott Clark, who is still settling into his new position of chairman of the commission's board, a decision that was also made at Tuesday's meeting.
Clark said that after "it was brought to another board member's attention," that Martin requested the changes made, the issue was put to the board. He added, without naming the member, that there was a "concern of retaliation."
It was reported that three commission board members including Millar, Georgia Boggs and Juan Ganum agreed with Clark in his move to suspend Martin. Martin reportedly walked out of the meeting as Clark requested that he clear his office of all personal property.
The Housing Commission has been struggling through what Clark called a "strained relationship." Most notably, the issue of Mary Dalenberg. The 91-year-old Niles Hi Rise resident was served an eviction notice by Martin after two safety issues. Dalenberg reportedly hired an attorney to fight the eviction.
Now Clark and the rest of the board find themselves in the position of needing an attorney as well. Clark said that Martin terminated the board's previous representation and they are currently looking to hire a new attorney to handle the investigation.
"We want to give Mr. Martin his chance to say his side without being argumentative," Clark said, adding that the commission wants to "be as fair to him as to anybody else."
Whether or not Martin's actions could be classified as "intimidation" is yet to be determined – but it would seem there is little question on the appropriateness of asking to modify the minutes of the May 13 meeting, according to Clark. "You don't tell the secretary what to say in the minutes," Clark said.