Pocono News Section

Scranton Housing Director Suspended

Scranton Housing Director Suspended - Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:13PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Feb 25, 2008 @07:13pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The executive director of the Scranton Housing Authority, David Baker, was suspended with pay during a Monday afternoon meeting of the Scranton Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners.

Last week, Baker was slapped with a 16 count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg. It accused him of misusing federal money and intimidating fellow co-workers.

The vote to suspend Baker was 5-0. The board decided that he will keep his salary of $104,000/year for the time being. By the same vote, the board also replaced Baker with the current deputy director, Gary Pelucacci, who says he wants to move forward.

"I want the residents to feel self-assured that we want to go forward. We want to continue our mission and to me that's the most important thing," Pelucacci said.

Pelucacci will temporarily replace Baker after his indictment.

"It shocked me. I think I'm still shocked over the whole situation. I worked well with David for the last 12 years. We worked on a lot of issues and a lot of projects. We've done a lot of good things at the authority," Pelucacci added.

Monday's meeting only lasted a few minutes, but officials also decided to send federal officials and federal housing authorities a letter. They want to know if new policies or changes are needed.

"There's not as much detail in an indictment as you think there might be and if HUD specifically wants us to implement something we want to hear that," solicitor Paul Paterson said.

David Baker was not at Monday afternoon's meeting. He still has not turned himself in to face federal charges listed in the indictment.