HICKORY, N.C. — The head of the Hickory Public Housing Authority has been fired for cause.
Board members said they voted unanimously Thursday night to terminate Alanda Richardson a week after the city of Hickory released “questionable” credit card statements.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty has closely followed every development in the case.
Last year, the city of Hickory considered a resolution to abolish the HPHA after the mayor said they received numerous complaints from residents.
Then last week, city officials released the credit card statements spanning two years from the Housing Authority, with concerns about “questionable” purchases made by Richardson.
Channel 9 went through those documents and found purchases made at a beauty boutique, Dillard’s, and thousands of dollars spent at hotels.
Richardson, who we’ve interviewed several times, texted Channel 9′s Dave Faherty a reimbursement statement that says some of the money was being spent at conferences and for gifts.
She also texted him a letter from her attorney stating that if she was fired and the HPHA ceased to exist, she could walk away with twice her salary—$290,000.
Many of the residents we spoke with Friday morning were outraged to hear that amount of money.
Hickory resident Brady Perkins, who says he’s complained about mold in his public housing apartment, believes the firing is a good move.
“She was never in the office since we were there, but every time I go in, she is never there but one or two times in a month,” Perkins said.
“I just think that’s pretty messed up,” said resident Whitney Ross. “I just don’t feel like she should deserve it. There are people out here struggling.”
The mayor of Hickory made it very clear that the severance would not come from tax dollars in Hickory. Board members are hoping attorneys can meet about that soon.
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