PITTSBURGH — The former executive director of the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority abused sick time and vacation time and used authority resources for outside businesses he was involved in, according to testimony Thursday of an attorney hired by the authority.

Neva Stotler of the Sewickley firm of Cafardi, Ferguson, Wyrick, Weis + Stotler testified at a Civil Service Commission appeal hearing that Perry O’Malley, who was fired as executive director in March, often would use sick time to buttress weekends and business trips. She also said O’Malley was in the office for much less time than would be expected of an executive director.

O’Malley was fired two months after he was placed on paid administrative leave. The authority’s board accused O’Malley of using resources from the authority for private business endeavors, abusing travel and sick time, and neglecting his duties.

O’Malley appealed his firing to the state Civil Service Commission, and claimed he was fired for his age and political affiliations.

Stotler said she met with a number of witnesses and went through documents from 2014, 2013 — which were the most recent years available — and 2008, which she said was far enough back to see if there were any continuing patterns.

Stotler testified that records indicated O’Malley was out of the office about 45 percent of the time in 2013 and 2014. She also said that there were instances of vacation time being listed on time sheets and later changed to sick time.

For example, in May 2013, Stotler said O’Malley was out of the office for 13 days out of 22 work days.

In October 2013, O’Malley was out of the office for 10.5 days out of 23 work days.

Many of his trips detailed were not for the authority, but for the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange (HARIE) — which O’Malley was a board member. For these trips, Stotler testified O’Malley would bill the authority for hours worked.

When the hearing adjourned for the day, Stotler was not finished. Also, Paul Mazeski, O’Malley’s attorney, did not have a chance to cross examine her.

Another hearing date is Oct. 8.