Local Hilton Head News Update:
- At a May 8 press conference, Gregory Voigt introduced new CEO Nathan Simms Jr. and addressed lingering chatter.
- Nathan Simms Jr. said he welcomes the board's review into the allegations.
- An April 28 report alleges Nathan Simms Jr. steered $4.3 million in no-bid contracts to former associates; he was terminated by a 6-3 vote in Norfolk.
- Gregory Voigt said the board believed its vetting was sufficient and expressed confidence in the process and in Nathan Simms Jr..
- Nathan Simms Jr. said he will seek policy and procedural changes to increase resident satisfaction and earn public trust.
MORNING HEADLINES | The Charleston Housing Authority (CHA) is in the process of selecting a firm to review allegations against its new CEO that reportedly led to his termination from leadership of the housing authority in Norfolk, Va.
CHA CEO Nathan Simms Jr. concluded his first week in the Holy City with a press conference on May 8, where board chairman Gregory Voigt introduced him to members of the public and addressed the “chatter” surrounding his past. Simms said he “welcomes the board’s review” into the allegations.
On April 28, a Virginia news outlet reported that Simms directed at least $4.3 million in no-bid contracts toward former associates without the Norfolk board’s knowledge. He was reportedly terminated in November by a 6-3 vote.
When asked if they knew why Simms was terminated previously, Voigt said they were satisfied with the answers provided. When asked what those answers were, he could not provide exact answers.
“We believe in the process that has gotten us to where we are, and we believe in the man that the process led us to,” Voigt said. “The process involved going beyond headlines, going beyond resumes and inquiring. And we believed that we had made that inquiry sufficient, that we could make our decision.”
Voigt confirmed that the housing authority knew Simms had been terminated before hiring him but added that he is not concerned with any criminal actions.
Simms said he is ready to earn the people’s trust through his actions, knowing there are some reservations with how he got here.
“Whether that’s changing policies, changing procedures, changing the way that we go about our previous business, we have to look at it differently because we have to increase resident satisfaction,” Simms said.
Find out what to do with Lowcountry’s best events calendar
Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.
Read more on the original source
