Helena Housing Authority Director Colleen McCarthy claims the HHA's governing board suspended her employment Thursday with the intent to fire her after she raised concerns to about a potential conflict of interest and violation of federal procurement law by board members.

"I was advised that the reason for the suspension and the intent to terminate me was that I spoke out to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)," she wrote in a press release to the Independent Record. "I raised concerns in July, directly to HUD. I was not suspended for any wrongdoing."

McCarthy did not elaborate on the allegations in her statement. She did not speak to a reporter and could not immediately be reached for further comment. HUD officials in Helena also could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

HHA Board Chair Linda Vaughey could not immediately be reached for comment to respond to the statement. In an interview earlier today, she continued to assert that she could not comment on the board's decision, which was made in a closed meeting Thursday, because it was a personnel matter.

"At this particular juncture personnel matters are privileged," she said, rejecting a suggestion that the public's right to know outweighed McCarthy's rights to privacy.

Read more of this story in Saturday's edition.

Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com