New London - Playing to a packed audience of public housing tenants and city officials, the New London Housing Authority agreed Thursday night to meet with residents of Gordon Court to resolve a dispute involving the elderly housing tenant association there.Shirley Gillis, chairwoman of the authority, told about 30 people at the meeting that she would be glad to sit down with residents to discuss accusations of harassment and allegations that the authority is squashing free-speech rights.

Shirley Gillis, chairwoman of the authority, told about 30 people at the meeting that she would be glad to sit down with residents to discuss accusations of harassment and allegations that the authority is squashing free-speech rights."We are tired of it too,'' she said in response to a resident who complained that there is a division among the nearly 40 residents who live in Gordon Court. She invited several other members of the authority to the meeting, along with its attorney Peter Hoops, and Acting Executive Director Sue Shontell.

"We are tired of it too,'' she said in response to a resident who complained that there is a division among the nearly 40 residents who live in Gordon Court. She invited several other members of the authority to the meeting, along with its attorney Peter Hoops, and Acting Executive Director Sue Shontell.Frank Cirioni, president of the tenant association at Gordon Court, a state housing complex for elderly and handicapped people off Williams Street, has alleged the housing authority is violating residents' free-speech rights, has interfered with association meetings and has prevented residents from speaking freely about problems on the property. He was sent a letter warning him to stop "speaking negatively about the Housing Authority to other agencies in the City of New London" and to refrain from talking about Housing Authority business on the property.

Frank Cirioni, president of the tenant association at Gordon Court, a state housing complex for elderly and handicapped people off Williams Street, has alleged the housing authority is violating residents' free-speech rights, has interfered with association meetings and has prevented residents from speaking freely about problems on the property. He was sent a letter warning him to stop "speaking negatively about the Housing Authority to other agencies in the City of New London" and to refrain from talking about Housing Authority business on the property.Cirioni also alleged he is being evicted for nonpayment of rent after he refused to let a Housing Authority representative attend a tenant association meeting. He maintains he is up to date on the rent but owed a $25 late fee from months ago that was never paid.

Cirioni also alleged he is being evicted for nonpayment of rent after he refused to let a Housing Authority representative attend a tenant association meeting. He maintains he is up to date on the rent but owed a $25 late fee from months ago that was never paid.The Neighborhood Alliance voted to back Cirioni and last week called for members of the housing authority to resign. But on Thursday, Jay Wheeler, president of the alliance, said his group has agreed to step back and let the authority and the tenants try to work things out.

The Neighborhood Alliance voted to back Cirioni and last week called for members of the housing authority to resign. But on Thursday, Jay Wheeler, president of the alliance, said his group has agreed to step back and let the authority and the tenants try to work things out."We're going to let cooler heads prevail,'' he said, adding that he wants to give two newly appointed members of the authority, Mel Foti and Russell Carr, a chance to learn the system.

"We're going to let cooler heads prevail,'' he said, adding that he wants to give two newly appointed members of the authority, Mel Foti and Russell Carr, a chance to learn the system."There's been a lot of problems that have been going on for years,'' Wheeler said. "We can't blame any one person. It's systemic."

"There's been a lot of problems that have been going on for years,'' Wheeler said. "We can't blame any one person. It's systemic."At one point in the meeting Kathleen Mitchell, who spoke on behalf of Cirioni, referring to him as "Cousin Frankie,'' abruptly left the meeting after several residents from other public housing complexes in the city praised the Housing Authority for quickly addressing problems.

At one point in the meeting Kathleen Mitchell, who spoke on behalf of Cirioni, referring to him as "Cousin Frankie,'' abruptly left the meeting after several residents from other public housing complexes in the city praised the Housing Authority for quickly addressing problems."I really, really resent what's happening here,'' she said, adding that there are many tenants who are afraid to speak out publicly against the authority.

"I really, really resent what's happening here,'' she said, adding that there are many tenants who are afraid to speak out publicly against the authority.k.edgecomb@theday.com

k.edgecomb@theday.com