At least six city employees could be fired after state officials wrested a federal stimulus program away from the Chattanooga Department of Human Services.
The $3.6 million weatherization program, which provides energy-saving rehabilitation to homes, was transferred Tuesday night to Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, a nonprofit housing organization partially funded by the city.
A major reason for the change was the city department’s “lack of urgency” to meet goals, according to Lisa Elam, director of Adult and Family Services contracts for the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Under federal guidelines, the department was charged with weatherizing 118 homes by December 2009 but completed only 23. By March 31, employees had finished only 83 homes, records show.
Several city employees now find their jobs on the line, but one said the real problem sits inside the mayor’s office.