Posted on: Wednesday, November 27, 2002

State housing agency's directors to meet today

By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

The board of directors of the Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawai'i is poised to promote Robert Hall as its new director, despite a federal government call for Hall's resignation or removal from the state housing agency.

Sharyn Miyashiro, executive director of HCDCH, had planned to retire at the end of the year but will step down at the end of this week, according to Darrell Young, information officer for HCDCH. Hall will replace Miyashiro on an interim basis, in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation, Young said.

The HCDCH board has scheduled a special meeting for 10:45 a.m. today and one of the agenda items is a report from the "executive director search committee."

An audit last month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recommended "the removal of the HCDCH executive director, executive assistant and board of directors." All board members except one told HUD they would resign by the year's end.

Young said this week that because HUD specifically called for the resignation of HCDCH board members but only generally for the resignation of Miyashiro and Hall, there is a "discrepancy" that must be cleared up before Hall responds. Hall could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts to get in touch with him.

Michael Liu, HUD's assistant secretary, was unavailable for comment. Donna White, HUD information officer in Washington, said yesterday that a response from Liu to the board's last communication to HUD "is imminent."

When Gov.-elect Linda Lingle takes office next week, she will appoint four ex-officio HCDCH directors and replace the other appointed board members after their resignations are submitted.