BY CHRISTOPHER BOYCE
Staff Writer

The termination of former Phenix City Housing Authority director Chuck Roberts and the authority's level of involvement in the city's riverfront redevelopment project were the focus of a visit from a state housing official.

Roberts' contract was terminated by a 3-1 vote at the authority board's June 29 meeting. The board went into a closed-door session Tuesday to discuss the manner in which Roberts was removed.

When the meeting reopened, Ed Sprayberry, director of public housing for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's office in Birmingham, Ala., said he wanted to make sure the board was cognizant that their primary concern should be the Housing Authority and its residents and not the redevelopment project.

Sprayberry said he became concerned when he heard rumors that the authority's $4.6 million renovation project was being canceled. The renovation project is under way for eight of 16 buildings in Riverview Apartments.

Board member Jim Lynn told Sprayberry the board had "decided not to pursue" the cancellation.

Later in the meeting after passing out booklets containing HUD regulations, Sprayberry reiterated that he wanted the board to place priority on their duty of protecting the interests of low-income residents in Phenix City before those of the city government.

"I'm not opposed to this (project), but again, my primary concern is to keep the authority and its residents whole," Sprayberry said. By keeping things whole, he later explained that meant having enough units for residents.

After the meeting, Lynn said he understood Sprayberry's concern and welcomed the open communication.

"What we're looking at is a pretty dramatic change," said Lynn in reference to the redevelopment plan. "I think it behooves us to stay in touch with him and the regional office. There's been a lot of discussion about redevelopment locally and it's been a soap opera. But I think this was a real constructive meeting. I think the last thing we want is to get mired down in bureaucratic detail." Sprayberry also said the board would need to present any redevelopment plans to the state office. Lynn said the board is close to presentation of a plan.

The board wants to fill the vacant director's position first so the new manager can work closely with city and private planners on the housing authority's portion of the redevelopment project.