The former executive director of the Butler County housing authority has indicated he will appeal his termination.

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County on Friday fired Perry O’Malley, accusing him of using authority resources for personal and private business endeavors that are a conflict of interest to the authority.

The board said O’Malley, who had been on paid administrative leave since Jan. 15, also abused authority travel time, travel expenses and leave time, and neglected his duties.

O’Malley refuted the claims in an e-mailed statement to the Butler Eagle.

“The accusations are ridiculous,” O’Malley said. “We have not been privy to any information to date, and yes I intend to avail myself of my full legal rights.”

O’Malley has 20 days from the time of his notification to file an appeal to the state Civil Service Commission.

Jack McGettigan, a spokesman for the commission, said the state expects him to appeal.

“We have not received an appeal yet from (O’Malley), but we expect he will appeal,” McGettigan said. “He had appealed the administrative leave, which is not something we could consider.”

O’Malley was placed on paid administrative leave so that the authority could investigate allegations brought against him in early January.

The authority has not revealed details of the allegations against O’Malley or who made them.

“In our correspondence with him, we let him know if (the leave) did lead to something like a termination or a suspension, then he could appeal that,” McGettigan said. “So he is aware of his rights.”

The Civil Service Commission could grant a hearing on an appeal. McGettigan said that hearing would likely be in Pittsburgh before a commissioner or a hearing officer.

The state’s three commissioners would then vote on the case at their monthly meeting.

Authority solicitor Andrew Menchyk said O’Malley has been notified officially of his termination through correspondence.

Menchyk said last week the authority would not rule out the possibility of further legal action against O’Malley. Menchyk also said he could not comment on whether O’Malley will face any criminal charges.

O’Malley’s legal counsel was at the authority’s meeting on Friday.

Menchyk said the authority has yet to determine whether it will seek to receive any form of compensation for past expenses from O’Malley. It also has not looked into what sort of benefits package O’Malley will receive.

“That’s not something that has been determined at this point,” Menchyk said.

O’Malley did not have a written contract with the authority, Menchyk said.

O’Malley continued to receive his $128,000 annual salary during his nearly two-month leave. The authority was unable to stop paying him until it had evidence to warrant discipline, Menchyk said.