O'Malley's appeal rescheduled
PITTSBURGH — One day of the appeal hearing for the firing of the former executive director of the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority has been scheduled.
Perry O’Malley’s hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at the state Civil Service Commission’s Western Regional Office. However, it appears that additional dates for the hearing will be required.
Jack McGettigan, press secretary for the Civil Service Commission, said that Sept. 9 was the only date that everyone involved could agree on.
“The commission will probably need to schedule additional days but those dates have not been determined yet, and it does not appear likely that they will be determined until after that hearing is held,” McGettigan said in an e-mail.
Commissioner Odelfa Smith Preston will hear O’Malley’s case.
The state’s three commissioners will rule later on the case.
The appeal was scheduled for June 30 but was postponed after both sides decided that it would required more than one day.
O’Malley was fired from his position as executive director of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County on 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 called the allegations “ridiculous” and said he was never provided examples to support any of the authority’s claims.
Instead, O’Malley in his appeal said he was fired because of his age and political affiliations, adding he had no prior disciplinary action in his 23 years with the authority.
O’Malley is seeking retraction of his firing and reinstatement as executive director at the same wage, benefits and seniority, as well as expungement of all records related to the firing.
He earned more than $128,000 annually as executive director.
Michael McNierney, the executive director of the housing authority in Erie County, is the interim executive director while the authority searches for a replacement.
