When the North Bergen Reporter, along with Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff, received an anonymous complaint two months ago about certain alleged improprieties at the Guttenberg Housing Authority – including the fact that three high-ranking employees purchased a Monmouth County beach home while two were tenants of federally assisted public housing – an investigation was begun by HUD and local entities.
Guttenberg’s public housing is meant for low-income tenants, moderate-income tenants, and senior citizens, and it is federally subsidized.
According a deed on the Monmouth Beach, N.J. house, Guttenberg Housing Authority Executive Director Barbara Criscione, then-Assistant Director Maryann Morro, and Housing Manager Fatima Becerril purchased the $770,000 property at 3 Riverdale Ave. on June 26, 2008.
Becerril is now the assistant executive director of the GHA, while Morro is a part-time housing manager.
Becerril and Morro have lived in GHA housing for some time now, according to two sources, as well as various websites and visits from the Reporter to check the names on the buzzers.
Becerril is a tenant of the affordable building at 6900 Broadway, while Morro lives in Guttenberg’s senior housing building at 7005 J.F.K. Boulevard East.
Criscione once lived in public housing before moving into the luxury Galaxy Apartments several years ago.
The GHA is run by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development to manage federally subsidized low-income and moderate-income housing. The individual housing agencies report back to HUD.
Claims being looked into
When the anonymous complaint was received, it generated concern by the mayor’s office about whether or not Becerril and Morro legally were allowed to live in public housing. There was also a question about whether ethically, a public housing official and her subordinates should buy a home together.
After hearing the complaints two months ago, GHA Board Attorney Terrence Corriston said the GHA board had board hired an auditor to review them.
That investigation is still ongoing, Corriston said last week.
Drasheff said that the anonymous letter making the complaints was forwarded to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Last week, both entities declined to comment on whether they are following up.
Investigations into the Guttenberg Housing Authority allegations are ongoing.
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Drasheff said that he plans to sit down with each member of the GHA’s all-volunteer housing Board of Commissioners in the next few weeks.
“In light of what has been in the news, I really want to know now are they on top of this as commissioners,” said Drasheff.
May be fine for them to live there
In order to qualify for federally assisted public housing in the United States, the individual(s) must meet income limits and other criteria. The rent is often set according to guidelines related to income and benefits received.
The 2006 state employee salary database compiled by a local newspaper said that Criscione was earning a $132,672 salary, while Morro was at $72,267 and Becerril was at $62,229.
According to the Asbury Park Press’s public official salary search, Criscione earned $157,169 in 2008.
A HUD spokesperson said that families living in public housing can own real estate, but all income from owning property must be reported when the family has net assets in excess of $5,000. The annual income must include income derived from the assets, or a percentage of the value based on the current standards of HUD.
The value of the additional assets should be multiplied by 2 percent and included in the annual income of the housing resident. If they can still meet the income requirements, they can remain in housing.
Poor attendance
The anonymous letter received two months ago also complained about alleged mismanagement at the GHA, and poor attendance at meetings.
Drasheff said that GHA commissioners Myrna Benitez, Ana Betances, and Julio Pena all had worrisome attendance records.
He said he was also concerned about the board’s occasional practice of voting via telephone, rather than attending the meetings. However, a HUD spokesperson said that this was not illegal in New Jersey.
“It may be permissible, but I don’t know if I would be inclined to reappoint a commissioner who [does this],” said Drasheff.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.