If the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is going to do Executive Director Clarissa E. McAdoo’s job, then she shouldn’t be there.

It was this sentiment that SRHA Board Chairman Mary V. Richardson used last night to echo McAdoo’s words in response to actions by board members following the recent eviction of a public housing resident. As McAdoo sat to her left, Richardson said that McAdoo made the comment during a phone call informing her of the fire leading to the family’s removal.

In fact, Richardson, Vice Chairman Charles W. Cary, and Commissioner Elizabeth Smith (via letter) joined in unison imploring board members to work together, and not air the agency’s dirty laundry to the press. Smith was absent from the meeting. Cary added that board members should not make promises to residents that policy may restrict.

&uot;We cannot work together with you and me going to the newspaper and telling residents that we will do things that we may not being able to do,&uot; said Cary. &uot;We can accomplish so much more if we work together…If we work together, we will be successful. If not we will fail.&uot;

Resident at-large commissioner Thelma Hinton was singled out for informing local media of unresolved problems plaguing the authority. It was suggested that Hinton may have promised the ousted family another public housing unit. Hinton acknowledged Tuesday night that she contacted the News-Herald, but denied giving the family any type of promise.

Hinton said she was &uot;devastated&uot; to learn that the family would be displaced, which prompted her call to Commissioner Linda D. Brown and the press. Hinton said the board should have &uot;empathy and sympathy&uot; for the family.

&uot;I know you are concerned about the people, but I think you could have gone to McAdoo,&uot; said Cary.

Both Richardson and Cary stressed that the board needs to do its job, and avoid interfering with McAdoo’s ability to effectively do her work. Richardson hinted that McAdoo was not in good spirits on Tuesday because of the commissioners’ meddling

in her job functions, and talk of dissatisfaction with her performance.

In a heated tone, Richardson forcefully cleared the air.

&uot;We are not dissatisfied with her (McAdoo),&uot; she said. &uot;Things get out in the street. As a board we need to discuss it… first before discussing it in the newspaper. We need to stick together and let’s address things together, and not apart.&uot;

&uot;Our responsibility as a board is to work together for the benefit of those people (public housing residents),&uot; said Cary, who added that he was also reflecting the tone of Smith’s letter. &uot;We make policy and we implement policy through McAdoo. On day-to-day operating issues and (other) specific issues, we have instructed McAdoo to follow policy and procedure.&uot;

This discussion at Tuesday night’s monthly board meeting centers on a blaze that displaced a family of five from the Hoffler apartments two weeks ago, and subsequent newspaper coverage. While the mother, Gwendolyn Bond, was at work, the 15-year-old daughter left cooking oil unattended on the stove, causing the blaze. The family lost most everything in the fire. To compound matters, the SRHA authority promptly notified Bond that day that she would be evicted.

Hinton and Brown quickly responded to the complex, and insisted among disgruntled family members and residents that they would rectify the matter. Members of the community and the board members were of the opinion that the housing authority should not have evicted the family considering that the fire was an accident.

Hinton moved to gain support from her fellow board members to aid the family; however, Brown later acknowledged that the matter was out of the board’s hands.

Richardson said Tuesday that when McAdoo informed her of the fire, she urged the executive director &uot;to use her discretion. I told her that’s why we hired her.&uot; Richardson added, &uot;McAdoo doesn’t need to be there if we are going to do her job. We need to let her do her job.&uot;

Both Richardson and Cary said they are sympathetic with regard to the family’s loss, but policy and procedure must prevail. Richardson also elaborated that the SRHA’s insurance policy does not condone relocating the family.

&uot;We have insurance problems… with housing someone else that has caused a fire,&uot; said Richardson. &uot;We run a risk on losing our insurance. We cannot house her (Bond) because of our insurance policy,&uot; said Richardson. &uot;We can’t change policy when someone gets outdoors – This is all blown out of proportion. We did not set her outside.&uot;

Newly hired attorney Howard W. Martin Jr. of Norfolk-based Crenshaw, Ware, and Martin, representing the authority, elaborated that the SRHA’s lease &uot;sets policy&uot; used as the basis for evictions, for example.

Hinton argued that in two other known instances, burned-out victims were reassigned to other units. McAdoo explained that in one instance, there was a malfunctioning stove, and the other involved management failing to appropriately follow through on housekeeping issues.

&uot;But you still gave the resident another chance,&uot; Hinton emphasized.

At the meeting’s end, Richardson said to the board, &uot;Let us try to get along together again. I am looking forward to it. And let’s keep our executive director a little happier.&uot;