The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County is hoping to find a new executive director by the end of summer.

The authority is in the process of hiring an executive search firm to help find qualified candidates for the position.

Michael McNierney, interim executive director, said at Thursday’s meeting the request for proposals from those firms are due to the authority by April 22.

“It’s such an important step to hire the right person for the permanent executive director position,” McNierney said. “We want to make sure we have a professional agency assisting in the search for candidates.”

McNierney said the search for a new executive director will be nationwide.

“This isn’t something we’re going to limit to a local search,” he said.

The authority fired its previous executive director, Perry O’Malley, on March 13, accusing him of using authority resources for personal and private business endeavors that are a conflict of interest to the authority.

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

McNierney, the executive director of Erie County’s housing authority, is assisting Butler County until it finds a new director.

O’Malley late last week filed an appeal of his termination with the state Civil Service Commission.

The commission is set to vote Wednesday on whether to grant O’Malley a hearing, which likely would be held in Pittsburgh.

Jack McGettigan, a spokesman for the commission, said appeals of terminations are almost always granted a hearing.

O’Malley’s appeal application form, which would list his reason for an appeal, will be made public if a hearing is granted, McGettigan said.

Civil Service’s three commissioners ultimately would make a ruling on a hearing.

The authority also is seeking a new permanent comptroller to replace Dave Schnur, who resigned Jan. 8.

The board on Jan. 15 placed O’Malley on paid administrative leave to investigate allegations made against him by an unspecified person within the authority.

That investigation led to his firing in March.

The authority has not commented on whether Schnur brought the allegations against O’Malley to light.

Schnur was in attendance at the authority’s meeting Thursday, although he did not speak to any issues.

Schnur after the meeting declined to comment at this time on whether his resignation was related to the situation with O’Malley.

The authority expects to work with Pittsburgh’s housing authority for accounting services until a full-time comptroller can be hired.

McNierney said that process will take some time, as the search for a new executive director is the board’s primary focus.