Fired Housing Authority Chief Sues for Reinstatement, Hearing

VENTURA —  The former executive director of the Area Housing Authority of Ventura County has filed a lawsuit against the agency charging she was fired without being given prior notice that her job was in jeopardy, as required by law.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in Ventura County Superior Court, Carolyn G. Briggs asks that she be reinstated and that a hearing be held on the charges against her.

Briggs began working as the housing authority’s executive director in April 1986. The housing authority receives funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as private donations, to construct and manage low-income housing.

The county housing authority was formed in the 1970s to provide affordable housing. Its budget is $20 million per year and there are currently 300 public housing units throughout the county under its control, according to commission Chairman Edward G. Jaloma.

The lawsuit states that on or about Sept. 9, housing authority commissioners held a closed meeting during which complaints about Briggs’ “poor management” were made. The next day Briggs was told to resign her position or she would be terminated.

The lawsuit names the housing authority, its new Executive Director Doug Tapking and its 14 commissioners.

Briggs contends that the commission met in secret without giving her written notice of her right to have the charges against her heard in open session.

She says she was not told of last month’s closed session until Sept. 10, when Jaloma informed her that in light of the charges made against her, Briggs had two choices: She could resign or be terminated effective that day.

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Briggs said that her termination in fact came on Sept. 9, and in her lawsuit states that the action was a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act. Under the act, she had a right to public sessions dealing with the threatened actions against her, according to the lawsuit.

She is seeking a judgment that the commission’s action be declared illegal and that she be reinstated with back pay. In addition, Briggs wants the commission to hold a hearing on the charges against her.

“The lawsuit comes as news to me, and as such I would reserve comment until I have received notice of it,” said housing authority attorney Lou Carpiac.

Briggs was not available for comment, according to her attorney, Richard Weinstock. In a written statement she said, “To be charged with poor management came as a complete shock to me. As recently as two weeks before I was dismissed, I received kudos from board members as well as programs we serve.

“I really don’t understand why the commission did this. I accomplished a great deal during my tenure,” Briggs said.

Housing authority staff members in Camarillo were instructed not to discuss the matter with the press, said executive secretary Rosie Whipple. Nor was Whipple able to say whether a public notice was issued detailing the agenda for the closed session, as set forth in the Brown Act.

The law allows public agencies to discuss a number of items behind closed doors, including real estate negotiations, anticipated or existing litigation and matters of employee performance and dismissal.

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However, the law requires that agencies must give public notification of items to be discussed in closed session prior to the meeting. They also are required to report any action taken during the closed session.

Weinstock said commission members were notified of the closed session but said the issue of Briggs’ future employment was not specifically mentioned. He also said the action violated the housing authority’s own rules, which require that employees be given written notice of dismissal or discipline. The order must specify the reasons for the action, he said.

Briggs received no such order, Weinstock said.