Several staff we spoke to today within the Washoe County social services infrastructure say they are confused by all the changes happening in their leadership, including the recent departure of Amber Howell, previously director of the Human Services Agency.
In an email sent today, Washoe County announced “staffing and structural changes happening with two of its public-facing departments, the Registrar of Voters Office (ROV) and the Human Services Agency (HSA). “
The news release said Dana Searcy’s position “will transition from the Office of the County Manager to become a new division within the Human Services Agency (HSA). “
A picture of Searcy listed her as Division Director of Housing and Homeless Services.
It did not mention Howell who apparently resigned under pressure this past summer after several complaints were made against her.
Howell declined an interview with Our Town Reno, saying there was an ongoing legal matter and that her attorney advised her not to discuss her predicament at this point.
Bethany Drysdale a spokeswoman for the County wrote back after this report initially came out indicating: “Amber resigned and an interim director was appointed at a Board of County Commissioners meeting. That is the standard procedure when a department director resigns.”
County Commissioner Mike Clark told Our Town Reno he “finds out about these things after the fact,” when asked about the restructuring. “I don't think the county was, well, they weren't transparent with me. Let's just put it that way.”
More specifically, concerning Howell he said, “it has the appearance that they made her life so uncomfortable that she resigned. She, you know, she was a long time employee of the county. I'm sure she had aspirations of retiring from the county, but for whatever reason, the county decided to put some undue pressure on her,” he alleged.
Clark has previously complained about the offices where Searcy does her work, above the La Famiglia restaurant in downtown Reno, far from the Cares Campus.
“As a former assessor, I look at buildings and improvements differently… When I look at something, I'm going to guesstimate the value,” Clark told us about his ongoing concerns about Searcy’s offices. “And, that's a palatial palace, let's just put it that way. I've been in every single county office in every county in the state over the years, and most every county office here in Washoe County. And it's like nothing you've ever seen. You should ask for a tour of it,” he said, calling Searcy the “darling of the manager’s office”.
“I look at that and I think all the money spent here could have probably been used better, spreading money around amongst the citizens,” he said. “The health department, they're crammed in there like in a hamster cage, and they've got literally no room to move. And then we've got another office down the street that's palatial. I want to know why.”
The county described Searcy’s expanded role as “a natural progression to harmonize the delivery of services across our homeless facilities, which include Our Place, the Cares Campus and our Safe Camp. HHS’s move will provide economies of scale for much-needed resources and collaboration opportunities as we pursue our mission to end homelessness and expand affordable housing in our region.”