The former executive director of the county housing authority has filed an appeal to the state against his termination last month.

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County on March 13 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.

O'Malley late last week filed an appeal with the state Civil Service Commission, according to Jack McGettigan, a spokesman for the commission. O'Malley had 20 days from the time he was notified of his firing to challenge the decision.

“He did get an appeal in before the deadline,” McGettigan said.

A copy of O'Malley's appeal application form, which would list his reason for an appeal, was not available Tuesday.

Andrew Menchyk, solicitor for the authority, said he has not received any formal notification of the appeal.

McGettigan said the state's civil service commissioners will review the appeal and determine whether to grant a hearing.

“If granted, that hearing could be scheduled for May,” McGettigan said. It would likely be at the Civil Service Commission's office in Pittsburgh.

O'Malley was placed on paid administrative leave in January while the authority investigated allegations against him made by an unidentified person at the authority.

The authority has not specified the exact allegations against O'Malley, but said he also abused authority travel time, travel expenses and leave time, and neglected his duties.

O'Malley in an e-mail to the Butler Eagle last month called the allegations “ridiculous.”

Menchyk said last month that the authority would not rule out the possibility of further legal action against O'Malley.