The Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority has a new executive director.

The authority board voted at a special meeting this morning to hire Edward Mauk, who currently serves as the chief financial officer for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority.

Mauk's salary will be $135,000, and he will start the job at the end of September.

Margaret Clawson, chairwoman of the authority board, said she is happy the hiring process is over and is looking forward to working with Mauk.

“We feel we have made a wonderful choice,” Clawson said.

Mauk, 47, currently lives in Pittsburgh and will move to Butler County.

At the Pittsburgh authority, he was credited with assisting with a financial turnaround.

He replaces Perry O'Malley, who was fired March 14, two months after he was placed on paid administrative leave.

The authority's board accused O'Malley of using authority resources for personal and private business endeavors that are a conflict with the authority. The board also said he abused authority travel time, travel expenses and leave time, and neglected his duties.

O'Malley is appealing his firing with the state Civil Service Commission.