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Can Of Worms At Housing Office

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2008

A federal investigation should determine the truth about allegations that several employees at Hillsborough's affordable housing office formed a company that could compete for office grants and tried to guide business to a firm owned by a worker's spouse.

But no investigation is needed to see the operation is a mess and County Administrator Pat Bean's oversight has been inadequate.

The latest accusations, which came to light during an internal county audit, were turned over to the U.S. Attorney's office last month. The individuals involved deny any wrong-doing. At least one characterizes the allegations as retribution for her criticism of superiors' blunders.

The office drew attention last February when commissioners learned the county had to forfeit more than $2 million in grants because it had not met federal deadlines in committing the money.

Commissioners targeted Howie Carroll, who managed the office. Bean was also blistered for not informing the commission about the miscue earlier, since the feds notified the county about the forfeiture in October.

Bean alluded to an ongoing investigation and said many of the complaints about Carroll were coming from affordable housing employees who didn't want additional oversight. But Carroll, who has since been demoted, hardly gave commissioners or the public the impression he had command of the situation.

The federal investigation will sift through the conflicting claims. But county commissioners should be asking how Bean, who's been administrator nearly five years, could let the department become such a rat's nest.

An agency that spends millions helping disadvantaged residents become self-sufficient homeowners merited far more of the administration's attention.

Bean owes commissioners a thorough explanation and a detailed plan for restoring the office's effectiveness and credibility.

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