Fort Worth Housing Solutions in search of new leader after board ousts president

The agency that oversees federal housing programs in Fort Worth has named an interim leader in the wake of the recent abrupt dismissal of its president.

Fort Worth Housing Solutions’ five-member board told Naomi Byrne at an April 27 meeting that she would not be offered another contract and asked her to leave immediately. She is being paid and receiving benefits through May 31, when her three-year contract ends.

After the meeting, real estate executive Mark Presswood resigned from the board. He declined to comment.

On Monday, Bryne said she had been working with the board on her evaluation and felt she was on track to have her contract renewed.

“I didn’t have any other indication,” Byrne said. “It was just stunning to me. No one’s told me a reason.”

When she pressed for more details, Byrne said board members told her that they “wanted to go in a different direction.”

The agency, whose board is appointed by the mayor and City Council, administers more than 4,650 housing units and 6,300 housing vouchers for HUD in the Fort Worth area.

Mary-Margaret Lemons, the agency’s general counsel, will serve as interim president while the board conducts an executive search.

Board Chairwoman Terri Attaway said that Byrne “had a lot of great accomplishments” and did a good job but that there was no provision in her contract that a new offer be made.

“It was time to make a decision,” Attaway said. “We have a lot on our agenda right now. This is not a negative thing. To be honest, we do have a dependable executive staff. We have a solid strategic plan, which includes working with all of our stakeholders to continue providing affordable housing in Fort Worth.”

Byrne is credited with advancing the face of public housing in the city. She was working to increase the number and improve the quality of low- and mixed-income projects throughout the city to meet demand. Some of the more visible projects are the redevelopment of the low-income housing projects Butler Place downtown and Cavile Place on the east side.

Mayor Betsy Price on Monday called Byrne very talented and said she enjoyed working with her. But, she said, “I respect the board’s decision to head in a different direction for leadership. I wish her the best in her next endeavor and know she will continue to find ways to make a positive impact in her community.”

The board’s actions have taken others by surprise.

“We’ve enjoyed working with Naomi and are fans of the direction of Fort Worth Housing Solutions,” said Andy Taft, president of Downtown Fort Worth Inc., an advocacy organization that has worked with Fort Worth Housing Solution on several projects.

Jeff Davis, who serves on the Fort Worth Transportation Authority board — which has been working with Fort Worth Housing Solutions on an innovative mixed-income, mixed-use project at Vickery and Main streets — said he was disappointed in the housing board’s actions, calling Byrne a “real leader in the community.”

Byrne came to Fort Worth as head of the Housing Authority of Pittsburgh. She’s also headed up housing authorities in Texarkana, Georgetown and Austin.

This story was originally published May 8, 2017 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Fort Worth Housing Solutions in search of new leader after board ousts president."