Edward Mauk

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

The authority board voted at a special meeting Monday 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, chairman of the authority board, said she is happy the hiring process is completed and is looking forward to working with Mauk.

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

Mauk was hired after a national search. Andrew Menchyk, the authority's solicitor, said he could not say how many applicants there were for the position, but said there were four finalists.

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

He has degrees from Penn State University and Saint Francis College, and he is a certified internal auditor. At the Pittsburgh authority, he was credited with assisting a financial turnaround.

In the past, Mauk served as a consultant to the county authority under an interagency agreement.

He replaces Perry O'Malley, who was fired March 14, two months after he was placed on paid administrative leave. Michael McNierney, executive director of the housing authority in Erie County, is serving as interim director.

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.

Menchyk said the appeal will not affect Mauk's appointment. If the CSC chooses to reverse the decision to fire O'Malley, Menchyk only would say that situation is something the authority would have to “deal with” at that time.

Mauk could not be reached for comment.