Tri-Cities housing authority leader on leave, under investigation
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Housing authority director placed on paid leave.
- Board contracted attorney at $350 hourly to supervise internal investigation for one year.
- Interim director named. The director manages $5.2M budget and 21 staff.
The executive director of the Housing Authority for Pasco and Franklin County has been placed on paid administrative leave and an outside law firm has been hired to conduct an investigation.
Meeting agendas for the board of commissioners of the Housing Authority do not explain why the director, Matt Truman, is being investigated.
Public records obtained by the Tri-City Herald include a contract between attorney Allyson Dahlhauser of Pasco law firm Ellerd, Hultgrenn and Dahlhauser.
The attorney’s job will be “to supervise, coordinate and otherwise facilitate an internal investigation through an outside investigator and to advise the board regarding all aspects of the investigation.”
She’ll be paid an hourly rate of $350, showed the documents. The contract started Oct. 1 and lasts for one year.
The housing authority helps place people in low-income housing, public housing and the Varney Court farmworker housing complex.
It also provides rental assistance for veterans, families who qualify and other groups.
It is a public entity with a board appointed by the county and the city, but it is not operated by city or county employees.
Truman was responsible for the overall management of 21 employees. He oversaw an annual budget of $5.2 million and housing programs that serve more than 1,200 residents.
His salary is nearly $147,000, according to his most recent employment agreement obtained by the Herald.
Les Domingos, the housing authority’s board chairman, made a motion at a Sept. 25 meeting to place Truman on paid leave “pursuant to findings following an investigation.”
Brett Sanders, the director of maintenance/capital fund, was named interim executive director at the same meeting. His salary was set at 90% of the executive director’s salary during the investigative period. The board unanimously agreed.
The board includes Domingos and commissioners Jeremy Bishop, Paul Cook, Linda Dukelow and Brian Griffith.
The Herald made multiple attempts to contact Truman, Domingos and Bishop, but did not receive any response. Executive Assistant Lisa Richwine and Dahlhauser also declined to comment about the investigation.
The board does not have another regularly scheduled meeting until Jan. 29.
This story was originally published November 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
