Mass. Judge Approves Takeover Of Housing Agency

A justice of the state's highest court has approved a state takeover of the Chelsea Housing Authority following the resignation of its executive director and governing board.

In an order issued on Monday, Supreme Judicial Court associate justice Robert Cordy appointed Judith Weber, a Cambridge-based housing consultant, to serve as temporary receiver of the agency.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley ask the court to approve the receivership.

The former head of the housing authority, Michael McLaughlin, resigned earlier this month following the disclosure that the agency had under-reported his $360,000 annual salary to the state.

Coakley's office has launched a probe of the agency.

Cordy said in his order that the state had demonstrated that were "good grounds" for temporary receivership.