Commissioners of the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority approved a separation agreement today for the former leader of the public housing agency.

Martin LaMar, who carried the titles of president and chief executive officer, will be paid his $150,000 salary through Aug. 20, according an agreement he signed last week.

RELATED ARTICLE: Housing authority accepts resignation of organization head LaMar

The resolution approving the agreement said Mr. LaMar "resigned" from the organization. He left employment with LMHA May 22 after the commissioners met in executive session.

The commissioners approved the agreement 4-0 without any discussion. Mr. LaMar had been the deputy director prior to being named president and CEO in July, 2015.

The commissioners also voted to promote Demetria Simpson to president and chief executive officer to replace Mr. LaMar. She had been the interim director.

A native of Mississippi, Ms. Simpson joined LMHA in September, 2015 to be the director of real estate and modernization. She was promoted to chief operations officer in August, 2016, taking over the duties previously held by Mr. LaMar.

Ms. Simpson led the redevelopment efforts for affordable housing in the Mississippi gulf coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She has a degree in community and regional planning from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program at Harvard University.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.

First Published June 20, 2017, 3:02 p.m.