The head of the city's public housing authority continues to defend her role in the lead paint controversy.

The NYCHA board held its first meeting since news broke the agency had failed to conduct lead paint inspections for years, in violation of federal and local laws.

Chairwoman Shola Olatoye signed off on paperwork last year falsely certifying the authority had performed those inspections.

But she says federal housing officials had already been notified of the issue, and that she never made any misrepresentation to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"At no point did I say we were in compliance," said Olatoye. "I had already said that there had been compliance, and that we were working to cure those gaps. That was the communication."

Olatoye also noted recently announced reforms, including a new compliance department, and said the agency is working on the lead paint issue with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office as part of its ongoing investigation.