MARION COUNTY — The executive director of the Marion County Housing Authority has been fired, with the action taken during a board meeting last week.

Allison Austin was terminated by a unanimous vote and the action was effective immediately. No reason has been made public for Austin’s termination, which was decided during a closed session.

Following the decision to terminate Austin, agency Capital Funds Director Sherri Spears was named interim director while a search is conducted for Austin’s replacement.

Calls to Spears and members of the housing authority board for additional information surrounding the action have not been returned.

Austin was named BPW Woman of the Year in October. She was employed by the City of Centralia as Community Development & Planning & Zoning Director before going to work for the Housing Authority.