LOWELL -- The City Council has called a special meeting to discuss the recently released federal audit of the Lowell Housing Authority, the findings of which could result in the LHA having to repay the federal government more than $11 million.

The meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The audit, completed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Inspector General's Office, found the LHA did not perform cost estimates and maintain proper records to ensure that at least $9.2 million in no-bid capital spending was cost-effective.

Federal auditors also found that the LHA did not always follow proper procurement procedures, so it could not assure federal officials that it obtained the most favorable prices or best quality for items totaling more than $2.2 million.

"Any costs determined to be unreasonable or ineligible should be reimbursed from non-Federal funds to HUD or the U.S. Treasury in accordance with the appropriate capital fund regulations," the federal audit states.

The special meeting will follow the council's neighborhoods subcommittee meeting at 5:30 p.m. to discuss an ordinance that would allow residents to keep backyard chickens and other farm animals.