Much of the onus of blame in the once secret housing report seems to ultimately rest on the shoulders of the city manager.

That is the person, who under the city charter, is responsible for overseeing staff and making sure policy and procedures are being followed.

In the case of two city properties involved in the housing controversy, the report found city policy was violated - specifically because no lottery system was used to identify qualified buyers for either of the properties in question.
 
The investigative report now available for public viewing, contains more than 200 pages of e-mails between city staff and other documents involving the property at 819 Knox Street, where a family was allowed to live for three years rent and tax free, and another property at 2 Grove Street.

Both properties were rehabilitated using funds from a housing program.

The report also indicates that City Manager Art Sciorra was aware of the Knox Street arrangement as far back as October 2008 and that Sciorra asked former Planning and Development Director Justin Woods for suggestions on dealing with the situation.

City Comptroller Philip Cosmo also repeatedly addressed the need to evict the Knox Street occupants over the three year period.
 
"The planner and the city manager have full control of the program. Nobody else in the city has - just those two. They were fully knowledgeable of everything," said Deputy Mayor Mike Morley.
 
Art Sciorra said Tuesday, "I am responsible for what happens on my watch, but I'm not to blame for what happened here."

Sources told 7 News that city council may be presented with a resolution to fire Sciorra - possibly as soon as next week's Monday meeting.

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