Staff gifts to Greene have included a regal oil painting of their boss, an expensive watch and a big-screen TV, at least eight former and current PHA employees told the Daily News.
In 2006, Greene created the "Pennsylvania Institute of Affordable Housing" and at the time, he named his spokesman, Kirk Dorn, as "president" and "tax responsible party," state records show.
Dorn, who now works for PHA on contract, said yesterday that he actually served as fund "secretary" and was no longer connected with it.
The fund's purpose is to "provide education to the community," according to a state corporate filing.
But four times a year, Greene taps into the fund to throw events that include excursions to the zoo, the Brunswick Zone XL in Feasterville, and barbecue cook-offs.
Former and current employees told the Daily News that they felt forced to pay into this fund and that Greene and PHA supervisors prodded them to play hooky on taxpayer time.
"We're compelled to join and you can't quit," said a PHA manager who requested anonymity. "You don't have a choice."
"There were no statements, no public accounting of the money," said a former PHA senior staffer.
Yesterday, Dorn described the fund as a "professional development" opportunity for staffers. He estimated that about 300 employees pay $100 annually to the fund. As of last night, Dorn could not provide financial statements requested by the Daily News.
Dorn said the fund pays for social and educational events. He said that when staffers go on the outings, they are on company time.
"PHA feels it's a team-building day. It's a legitimate use of managers' time," Dorn said. "You get to know each other better.
