ABC's Exec Director Dennis Capozzolo Resigns Under Pressure

CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings has bluntly called the Lehigh Valley's affordable housing program a continuing "disaster" that has spanned the last seven or eight years. He notes that outfits like the Alliance for Building Communities (ABC) have been "overextended." From what I've been able to determine, it's also been mismanaged. Just a few days ago, ABC CEO Dennis Capozzolo was asked to step down amid swirling allegations of sexual harassment, combined with financial miscues, that have basically made it next to impossible for ABC to borrow. In short, ABC itself is in need of an affordable housing program. Board member Gerry Alfano is currently acting as Interim Director.

Two years ago, life was good for Capozzola. Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski named him to a "blue ribbon" committee that would supposedly solve all of the Queen City's budget woes. But that was a charade. Capozzola actually admitted to Morning Call reporter Jarret Renshaw that he only attended one meeting. "I really don't know much about it," he said.

But he knew how to get his daughter a job at ABC. And he vetoed any attempt to discipline her for not showing up.

Janis Geist, former VP of Housing Programs, resigned two years ago as a result of friction with Capozzolo. When I told her about Jennings' comments, she agreed that "[t]hey've been overextended for years." She also mentioned that ABC regularly commingles funds, "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul."

Kinda' like Bethlehem.

Geist noted that ABC fails to go after tenants who fail to pay rents for months on end, but is even more disturbed by the dilapidated housing stock. "They have properties that should probably be condemned," she remarked, noting that ABC properties do not get inspected by code enforcement, but safety concerns remain.

"In my opinion, it took too long to happen, but it is a good organization and I hope it can be saved," she concluded, complimenting the "good staff there."

Since Capozzolo's ascension to the ABC throne, a number of high level managers have left, from Geist to Director of Development & Community Relations Sandra Tenney to Facilities and Project Manager Heidi Westerman.

An answering service at ABC was unable to respond to any questions about Capozzolo's sudden departure. According to the firm's 990 for 2009, Capozzolo was being paid $62,321. ABC was $218,000 in the red in 2008, but did show a $338,000 surplus in 2009.