Representatives behind a multi-million dollar housing project are concerned about the stability of the Housing Authority board following the possibility that some members may be removed by the city council.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen announced its intention to remove all commissioners of the Yazoo City Housing Authority earlier this month. Some city leaders said they had “grave concerns” over the Housing Authority’s minute records and credit card expenditures. All commissioners appeared before the city council Monday to respond and request to remain on the housing board.
The city council took no action concerning the Housing Authority following that public hearing.
However, during the Housing Authority’s open meeting last week, the future of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) project was brought to the table.
“It has become apparent that the mayor and some of the aldermen are concerned about the Housing Authority being able to lead on the board,” said HA board attorney Barry Bridgforth. “What is going on has some impact on that RAD project.”
The concerns stemmed from a recent $550,000 transfer into the Gateway Community Development Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of the Housing Authority. The funds came to the Housing Authority after a lawsuit judgement.
“I can find no basis for it being improper that you placed the money with Gateway,” Bridgforth said. “The money was awarded to the Housing Authority. It is the Housing Authority’s money. It is for you to do with according to your mission. Your mission is to help the economically disadvantaged, provide homes and provide housing. That is basically Gateway’s mission. The money is going to be used in accordance with the mission, which is in sync with the mission of the Housing Authority. I don’t think it is improper to place that money there.”
Bridgforth also added that he doesn’t believe the city council had any authority to remove the commissioners from the Housing Authority board. Based on the opinion of the attorney general, he said the city council did not appear to have that power.
However, according to the bylaws of the Housing Authority, a commissioner can be removed.
“A commissioner may be removed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Yazoo City for inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office, but a commissioner may be removed only after he is given a copy of the charges at least ten days prior to the hearing thereon and had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel,” the Housing Authority bylaws state.
The city council provided its charges to the Housing Authority Commissioner on Aug. 15 with a public hearing held last Monday.
“I am concerned that the city’s action could be detrimental to your ability to proceed with the RAD project,” Bridgforth said.
Susan Langford, with Butler Snow Law Firm, spoke to the Housing Authority board about concerns that are coming forward only about a month from completing the RAD project negotiation.
Langford said the $40 million-dollar project will provide a complete overhaul and renovation to several housing developments within Yazoo City. A total of 268 units will “look fabulous when all is done.”
However, the project is part of a complex process that involved the Housing Authority, the Gateway Corporation, limited partners and other investors. But even after the project is completed, the Housing Authority will remain the property managers.
Langford said there are a number of documents required to keep the RAD project going. Those documents have the current Housing Authority board listed, requiring their signatures.
“We are going to have to know these are the people who are actually the Housing Authority board members…” Langford said. “We can’t have any doubt about this situation with these documents.”
Mayor Diane Delaware said the city council supports the RAD project, but there are still concerns over the stability of the Housing Authority board. No action was taken following the public hearing with the housing commissioners.
