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Authority Has New Chief

Alan Green Is Expected To Take Reins Of Housing Agency Jan. 4

By DANIEL E. GOREN, Courant Staff Writer

December 14, 2007

The Hartford Housing Authority has chosen a new executive director, more than a year after firing its last director amid concerns about alleged financial irregularities.

The new leader is Alan Green, a resident of the city's West End. He is expected to start on Jan. 4.

Most recently, Green was president and chief executive officer at New Samaritan Corp. in Hamden. New Samaritan develops affordable housing and housing for the elderly, according to a release issued by city hall.

Green, who grew up in Hartford, returned to the city two years ago from Bloomfield.

"I made a conscious decision to move back into Hartford to become part of the fabric of the community," Green said in the release. "In fact, in my early years, my family and I lived in Rice Heights. It was a wonderful experience — safe, clean and supportive. To me, that's what public housing should be all about, so I take on this opportunity with tremendous enthusiasm."

Sarah Barr, a spokeswoman for Mayor Eddie A. Perez, described Green in the release as "an experienced housing development administrator" with "a proven track record for developing innovative programs and administrative policies for housing, philanthropic, and governmental organizations."

Mark Ojakian, the housing authority chairman and the state's deputy comptroller, said in the release that he was excited to have a person with Green's experience taking over.

"I believe that, under his leadership, we will continue to move the Housing Authority forward in a positive manner," Ojakian said. "In Alan Green, the Board selected a true partner in serving the needs of the residents of public housing in the City of Hartford."

Perez said Green's record of standing up for the "working class and working poor" speaks for itself.

"I believe that Alan's leadership and experience will be quite beneficial to Hartford residents achieving their housing needs and goals," he said in the release.

The housing authority has been the focus of various governmental investigations for more than a year, ever since its former board abruptly fired then-Executive Director Lancelot Gordon Jr. over alleged financial irregularities.

Gordon filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, and leveled a rash of allegations of corruption. Perez disbanded the authority's board of directors and installed a new one in November 2006. Since then, the new board has been searching for a new executive director.