By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD TWP. - The Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority Board this week rejected a proposal to prohibit board members from talking to staff or tenants without advising the executive director and receiving the permission of the full board.

COUNTY, HAMILTON BACK WAR

HAMILTON - In response to some cities that have passed resolutions opposing a U.S.-Iraq war, the Butler County commissioners on Thursday approved a resolution supporting President Bush if he decides to take military action against Iraq. "We want everybody to know that in Butler County, we trust our president and his team," Commissioner Mike Fox said. "If he has to commit our troops to combat, we support him and our troops." On Wednesday, Hamilton City Council also passed a resolution supporting President Bush and a possible war against Iraq. The vote was 6-1, with Councilwoman Kathy Becker casting the no vote. Councilman George McNally, who introduced the proposal, said: "I think we have to draw the line with Saddam Hussein. Let's get in there and liberate those folks."

Board members Robert Gerhardt and Gary Sheets spoke out strongly against the proposal, which runs counter to the Butler County commissioners' desire for the agency to be more open.

"I'm dead set against this," said Gerhardt, adding that he had never seen a policy like that in his years of public service.

All four board members voted against adopting it into the agency's by-laws.

The agency's administration proposed the controversial regulation because it was part of the by-laws of another housing agency, said Leonard M. "Tony" Blaine, Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority's executive director.

He offered no rationale for the regulation, which was included in a proposed addendum to the by-laws.

The board rejected another by-law proposal allowing only the board chairman to approach outside organizations without the chairman's or the board's permission.

The board also refused to approve a proposal calling for the removal of any board member violating those and other conduct requirements.

The board's meeting on Wednesday was its first since the Butler County commissioners called for the resignations of all board members because of its recent harshly critical review by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and complaints from some housing authority employees.

It was also the first meeting for Sheets, the commissioners' appointee to the housing authority board. He replaced Herman Hill, who resigned in hopes of encouraging the others to resign.

The Hamilton city manager appoints two board members, while the commissioners, Probate Court and Common Pleas Court appoint one each.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com