By:Angela Marshall
Helped quell financial problems and begin revitalization
More than 100 residents of Rockville Centre's Housing Authority signed a petition to Mayor Eugene Murray asking for a salary increase to entice John Duenges to stay on as executive director.
Usually it is the other way around. Tenants led the cry for the removal of the authority's previous two directors, Bruce Braithwaite and Barbara Torbitt.
"[Duenges] went way beyond the call of duty," said resident Deardra Brown. "I don't think there will be anyone as good as him."
The salary for executive director is set by the Housing Authority Board, not the Mayor.
Duenges gave notice last month and finished his tenure Friday, Aug. 17. He is moving to a complex in Islip. "It's just an opportunity that's really good for me," Duenges said on his final day.
Housing Board President Robert Pagnotta will be filling in part time until a replacement can be found.
Many thought the troubled institution was finally getting back on its feet. A $3 million revitalization was just beginning and after years of vacancies due to unrentable apartments, it was finally 100 percent occupied.
Problems still existed for the HA. Although bills are being paid more regularly, there is still an outstanding debt owed to the village electrical department. "We're in pretty good shape," Pagnotta said. "We've worked down our debt to a more manageable amount."
Fellow board member Vincent Bohn praised Duenges for his part in turning the authority around. "He was certainly doing an excellent job."
Pagnotta hopes to be caught up within the next two years. The acting director is also hopeful that state Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre)
will once again include $60,000 for the authority
in the state budget to replace operating expenses cut by Gov. Pataki
in 1996.
Skelos spokesman Thomas Dunham said the senator has every intention of providing the funding as a member item but said it would not be definite until the budget is passed.
Resident Betty Lockwood said she was excited about the renovations and believed Duenges was doing a good job.
