City worker leaves after revitalizing program

After 27 years of service with the Bloomington Housing Authority, Director Peggy Gudal announced her resignation for the fall.\n"I want a rest," she said. "I began working here when I was 23 years old, so you can imagine."\nBHA works with low-income families to provide subsidized housing in accordance with Housing and Urban Development guidelines. In a statement, Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez said when Gudal assumed the office of director in February 1998, the program was on the "troubled" list, receiving D's and F's on its housing assessments. Through Gudal's hard work, along with staff assistance, the program was earning B's and A's in just over a year.\n"I saw it nurtured from a small program to a large program," Gudal said. "We worked really hard with the (Bloomington) Police Department. The staff worked really hard. Everyone worked really hard."\nHousing is assessed according to criteria such as turn-around times, occupancy, financial attributes and programs for tenants. Gudal noted residencies are also assessed on their relations with the police department.\nTim Ball, Housing Authority commissioner and vice president for facilities at Monroe Bank, said Gudal's efforts had a lasting effect.\n"This is a better Housing Authority thanks to Peggy Gudal," Ball said in a statement. "She has had a great career here and she will be missed."\nFernandez echoed Ball's sentiments concerning Gudal's proven track record.\n"It's a great success story and Peggy deserves our gratitude and the credit," he said.\nFernandez was responsible for appointing a citizen search and selection panel for a new director at the request of the Housing Authority's board of commissioners.\nRichard Rampley, search committee chair and director of Bloomington Work One Center with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said the national search will hopefully fill the position by November.\n"We're updating the job description and will be posting the opening soon," he said. \nWhen asked what attributes the new director should hold, Gudal noted the heavy workload will require her replacement to be highly determined.\n"They should have a lot of perseverance and patience," she said. "It's an exciting time to be coming on board."\n-- Contact Assistant Opinion editor Jackie Corgan at jcorgan@indiana.edu.