There has never been a reason to question the honesty, integrity and judgment of Perry O'Malley, executive director of the county's housing and redevelopoment authorities.

However, the Butler Redevelopment Authority, which O'Malley also is serving in the capacity of interim executive director, made a questionable move in June when it gave O'Malley the power to hire and fire personnel without any authority supporting action.

Considering the overall instability within the city authority over the past year, authority members should have kept an official decision-making role regarding personnel matters and acted upon O'Malley's employee recommendations, not merely observe what he chooses to do.

A hands-on personnel role also would seem to be important since O'Malley is interim director while a permanent director is sought, not the permanent director. Individual authority members should be in close touch with the thinking behind what is being done now so a sense of continuity can be maintained once the new director is aboard.

Although housing and redevelopment executive directors in other counties have the power to hire and fire without being backed up by official authority votes, this time of day-to-day uncertainty within the city redevelopment authority's operations indicates that the city agency should not be content with decisions based on one person's perspective.

While having additional people involved in personnel decisions would make the process more cumbersome, the public, regardless of O'Malley's past competent performance, could feel more comfortable about what is done, if authority members had a continuing solid grip on the situation.

Any officials not comfortable with tough choices, based or not based on the outcome of past decisions, should reconsider their decision to serve in a capacity such as the redevelopment authority entails.

The city is paying the county $5,000 a month for the services of O'Malley and his staff. The city authority hasn't merged with the county authorities.

Therefore, the city agency shouldn't relinquish too much control under the interim arrangement.

Unfortunately, it appears to have done that in granting O'Malley the final say on personnel decisions.