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C. Ms. Cherry - This is regarding the issue that happened with the police man called. <br />When, through that visit Shaquanda Cotton, who's a tenant, was not allowed to have a <br />copy of a paper in her file. She was told instead to file a grievance before she can get it. <br />By law tenants can view their housing authority file and get a copy of anything in it. The <br />HA can charge a reasonable fee if they choose and tenants do not have to file a grievance <br />to get it. If they choose to file a grievance, they still have a right to have a copy of <br />whatever they need before then. <br />Mr. Haynes - Is that the rules for the tenants that you are reading from? <br />Ms. Cherry - No, I wrote this out. <br />Ms. Ruthart - That's the Open Records Act. <br />Ms. Cherry - That is from the Open Records Act that they can have a copy. The front <br />office secretary, I don't know her name, they told me Althea, called the police on my <br />daughter, Tiffany Cherry, for no logical reason. Shaquanda Cotton was told by Cathy <br />Sims that she could not get a copy of the child support figures that Ms. Sims had showed <br />her earlier in the day that was used to calculate her rent amount and she could get it at the <br />Attorney General's office. Ms. Sims told Shaquanda to put it in a grievance if she wanted <br />it. Tiffany asked what the name of the paper was so she could put it in the grievance. Ms. <br />Sims told Tiffany Cherry that she didn't have to answer any questions for her because she <br />is not a tenant. Althea became agitated and came to the window and shouted at Tiffany, <br />shutup, sit down. Shaquanda told Althea not to talk to Tiffany like that. Althea also said <br />they didn't have to answer questions to people who aren't tenants. Althea told Tiffany <br />Cherry she was not, I'm calling her Althea cause I don't know her last name, not trying to <br />be disrespectful to her, Althea told Tiffany Cherry she was going to have her removed <br />and proceeded to call the police. Shaquanda Cotton continued to write out her form. <br />Tiffany called me and said the police were being called on her for asking a question. The <br />police came and Althea told them she wanted them both removed, Shaquanda tried to <br />turn in her paper but Althea told her she was not gonna wait on her and the police <br />removed them both. Tiffany doesn't live in housing she most likely will never need to but <br />right now Shaquanda does. Tenants can be evicted over claims they violated a staff <br />member, such thing can result in an arrest. Instances such as this are also intimidating and <br />gives a tenant a reason to be reluctant to complain about anything or ask questions. The <br />Housing Authority should not call the police on tenants unless there's a valid reason. I <br />don't like you. I don't want you asking questions or you did not sit down when told to are <br />not valid reasons. It's in the best interest of the HA to resolve simple issues without a <br />tenant having to file a complaint to get it done. It's in the best interest of the HA to not <br />instigate problems. The Paris Housing Authority has a notice posted on the front office <br />window. It says if you are disrespectful to staff don't expect service here. Respect works <br />both ways. The HA is not running a plantation, a grade school where people are not <br />allowed to question anything. The HA code of ethics standards of conduct states the <br />maintenance of unusually high standards, of honesty, integrity, impartiality and conduct <br />of employees is essential to assure the proper performance of HA business and the <br />maintenance of confidence by citizens of the community. It also says the HA requires <br />that each employee shall conduct himself/herself in a manner that facilitates the <br />accomplishment of the work of the HA, observing at all times the requirements of <br />courtesy, consideration, and promptness in dealing with the public and with persons or <br />14 <br />