Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford, on paid leave while the State Ethics Commission reviews his receipt of gifts, "has received assurances from authorities that his cooperation with them is of 'mutual interest,' " his attorney said today in a short statement.

The statement from attorney Lawrence Fisher came in response to today's Post-Gazette story about conversations at least two people said they had with federal investigators regarding a range of issues with which Mr. Ford has been involved, including city billboard permitting and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority's operations.

"Mr. Ford is neither the subject nor the target of any investigation by authorities, federal or otherwise," wrote Mr. Fisher.

Yesterday, he reiterated past statements that Mr. Ford "is actively cooperating with authorities regarding his concerns about the [Pittsburgh] Housing Authority," of which he was board chair until early April. He would not say who the authorities are.

Mr. Ford has said that he brought concerns about Housing Authority spending and management to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. Mr. Zappala's office said yesterday that investigators continue to review the matter.

The State Ethics Commission was asked by the URA in April to determine whether any laws were broken by Mr. Ford's receipt of a surround sound system and other gifts from his friend, James Vlasach, real estate manager for Lamar Advertising. Lamar has dealings before the city, including an application for a controversial electronic billboard on the publicly owned Grant Street Transportation Center.

Mr. Ford has said the gifts did not exceed reporting thresholds in ethics codes. Mr. Fisher has said that he believes the State Ethics Commission may decide by Friday whether to dismiss the matter or conduct a full investigation.

A Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing on Lamar's latest permit application for the site is set for July 24. Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields today said he will scheduled a closed-door council executive session with city Solicitor George Specter -- probably to occur Monday -- to discuss how the city will be represented and what its position will be at the hearing.

Mr. Shields said the closed-door session is justified because the hearing is technically litigation, and noted an exception to state open meetings laws that allow executive sessions "in connection with litigation or with issues on which identifiable complaints are expected to be filed."

Lamar's original permit, approved in December without hearings or votes, spawned a zoning challenge by council, and a civil suit by the billboard company that briefly went to federal court, before the permit was revoked in a settlement requiring public processes.