Affordable Housing of Lawrence County wanted board members who represented the community’s diversity.
To that end, Donald “Ducky” Conti tapped his next-door neighbor, the Rev. James O. Blackwell. Conti, the nonprofit housing agency’s treasurer, touted Blackwell’s standing in the African-American community in securing a seat for the East Home Street resident.
However, Blackwell is part of another community. One that would have raised questions with the board’s former president. Blackwell is an ex-convict.
On Aug. 25, 1992, Blackwell pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of breaking and entering, according to Stark County, Ohio, court records. He and two Youngstown residents — David E. Smith and Lisa D. Dunn — were accused of burglarizing three Alliance, Ohio, nursing homes. Smith and Dunn also pleaded guilty.
Facing a sentence of five to 25 years, Blackwell spent seven months in the Lorain (Ohio) Correctional Institution. Afterward, he was placed on probation.
Blackwell and Conti could not be reached for comment.
“We asked each member to see if they could bring some new members in because we wanted to have diversity,” recalled Robert Evanick, Affordable Housing’s former president.
When asked if he was aware of Blackwell’s past, he said, “No, absolutely not.”
Blackwell resigned early this week, becoming the fourth person to leave the agency’s board. He joins Evanick, attorney Frank Natale II and New Castle City Councilwoman Karen DeCarlo. Those resignations also came this month.
Conti and First Commonwealth Bank official Bill Bonner remain on the board.
Evanick is executive director of the Lawrence County Housing Authority. Conti serves on the board of the authority, which created the new agency in 2003.
A criminal past does not prohibit a person from serving on a nonprofit’s board.
“It’s one of those where you want to be aware of it and careful about it,” said Joe Geiger, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
“Frankly, a lot of organizations would make a judgment: Does this person bring more benefit to the board than exposure?
“There’s no law that precludes a nonprofit to recruit someone who had a criminal record but it certainly ought to raise lots of flags on what that person’s responsibilities and access to information would be.”
Geiger said people are not required to divulge their past when asked to serve on a nonprofit board. However, an organization should practice due diligence in recruiting.
“If you had somebody who was convicted of bad behavior in accounting, you certainly wouldn’t want that person to be a treasurer for you.”
Revelation of Blackwell’s conviction is one more piece of bad news for Affordable Housing.
The purchase of seven houses this month, four above assessed value, prompted the county commissioners to say they want more information about the agency’s operations. And the board’s ability to function with only two members is being examined.
“The IRS does not like boards of less than three,” said Pittsburgh attorney Jack Owen, who specializes in tax-exempt organizations for his law firm, Polito and Smock. “They want to see a board of directors representative of the community.”
The Internal Revenue Service is responsible for granting Affordable Housing tax-exempt status.
“The question ... is, would the IRS revoke it because they only have two on the board? The IRS would probably say, ‘You have to recruit (more board members).’”
TOP STORIES
Pastor's past: Former board member of Affordable Housing an ex-con
- TOP STORIES
-
-
Towne Mall Memories, Part 1: Former merchants recall glory days when center teemed with shoppers, excitement
In the early 1970s, there was only one place to go for pizza and a perm. The Towne Mall. Today, you can still satisfy your cravings for a hair style and a New York style under that same, single roof. Only now, the place is called the Cascade Galleria, and the name isn’t the only thing that’s changed.
-
Road to the Mall: Some former merchants tell how and why they decided to locate in the facility
They came at various times but for the same reason. They wanted to be a part of the Towne Mall. When Sears became the first mall store to open in 1969, others quickly followed. All but one of those original mall merchants — Madelyn Rice of the Towne Mall Beauty Salon — are long gone from the facility now called Cascade Galleria.
-
Fire again hits former Shenango China plant
Black smoke billowed from the shell of the former Shenango China plant Friday afternoon. As temperatures flirted with 90 degrees, firefighters from seven companies operated as relay teams to knock back the fire, which firemen believe was deliberately set on the second floor at the back of the property.
-
New Castle district gives early budget highlights
Balancing of the New Castle Area School District’s 2012-13 budget will not require a property tax increase.
The school board has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday to introduce its spending plan totaling $40,538,389 for next school year. That represents a 3.7 percent or $1,461,942 increase from this year’s budget. -
Car splits pole in Neshannock crash
A New Castle man suffered injuries in a Neshannock Township accident yesterday where his car hit a pole and overturned. Neshannock police reported that Christopher Story, 39, no age given, of 411 Park Ave., hit another car from behind while traveling on Maitland Lane around 5:20 p.m.
-
New with a view? Commissioners hope to see water from bridge
The Lawrence County commissioners want to see rocks and rippling waters when crossing the North Street Bridge. In other words, a view of the Neshannock Creek is something they want built into the plans for replacement of the bridge.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Hometown to remember Medal of Honor winner
Army Spc. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. has been fittingly honored in Washington, D.C. for his ultimate sacrifice in Cambodia. Now, his home town and county of Lawrence want to bestow more accolades on the Medal of Honor recipient, who was killed while protecting his platoon in battle May 10, 1970 in the Vietnam War.
-
Transit authority suspends bus run to Ohio line, outlets
The New Castle Area Transit Authority has suspended a bus route to the Ohio line. Service in that direction is discontinued at least for the summer, but perhaps longer. Leonard Lastoria, authority general manager, attributes the suspension to a lack of manpower.
-
Finale: Longtime band director Gary Taylor ready to call it a career
This fall, the Wilmington High’s band performances no longer will be Taylor made. Director Gary Taylor has announced his retirement after 32 years of holding the baton for the school district. Taylor capped his career with the band marching in the Kentucky Derby parade earlier this month, and was honored at a retirement gala at the home of attorney Dallas Hartman.
-
Photos, Full Story: Annual Relay for Life attracts hundreds to Shenango High
Hundreds of area residents lined the Shenango High School track Saturday to kick off this year’s Relay For Life festivities. The theme of the event was, “Lights, Camera, Relay,” and the stadium fence was filled with stars.
- More TOP STORIES Headlines
-
