With nobody doing much talking, it is tough to know what to make of the Helena Housing Authority board's decision last week to put its director, Colleen McCarthy, on paid administrative leave. And that's troublesome.

McCarthy, a former Helena mayor, said in a statement that the action came after she had raised concerns with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development about possible conflict-of-interest and procurement-law violations. McCarthy said the board plans to fire her.

HHA board chair Linda Vaughey, meanwhile, said she couldn't comment because personnel matters are privileged.

Correspondence from HUD and the board's minutes mention a number of issues, such as resident complaints against HHA management, a board order to terminate a contract, and a possible conflict involving a banking relationship related to an HHA project, but without more information there's no way to assess the seriousness of the problem, let alone who, if anyone, is in the wrong.

We can understand the desire to protect privacy, but it also must be remembered that the Helena Housing Authority is a public agency that handles taxpayers' money as well as rent checks from residents.

All such agencies ultimately are accountable to the public, and it is difficult to be accountable while keeping mum.