Changes Coming for Huntsville’s Housing Authority
Looks like citizen outrage and protest over the Huntsville Housing Authority’s (HA) secret purchases of property and scattering of public housing has made an impact. According to the Huntsville Times, State Senator Paul Sanford is introducing a bill to revoke the authority of Huntsville mayors to name the volunteers that run the HA.
In the future, the City Council would be responsible for appointing the board by majority vote. Times writer Challen Stephens quoted the Senator as saying the HA’s intentions to spread out public housing was “well intentioned, but misguided,” and that the new voting procedure would “bring a little bit more sunlight to the process.” It was mentioned that this procedure is only being instigated in Huntsville. I find that rather curious and sad. I’m thankful that it’s happening for us, but I doubt seriously that other municipalities in the state couldn’t benefit from that sunlight, too.
State Representative Mike Ball of Madison and State Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur took the disclosure principle a step further. They will be introducing a bill to ensure future property purchases are voted on by the City Council or county commission prior to committing tax payer funds.
What wasn’t mentioned was if/what time period the current Housing Authority board would continue to serve, and what corrections, if any, might be taken to reverse some of the damage already done to our communities and our pocketbooks.
Update Jan 12, 2010:
A question brought up on the AL.com Huntsville forums was, “Are these the same people?” meaning, “Is anyone on the HHA also on the City Council and do they have the same intentions?”. Intentions, I’m not sure of, but I looked up the members of both boards to share with you here:
- Per the October 19, 2009 meeting minutes posted at the HHA Public Information Page, the HHA is staffed by:
- Chairman Charley S. Burruss
- Vice Chairman R. Thomas Beason
- Commissioner Leon D. Fountain
- Commissioner Phillip L. Redrick, Ph.D.
- Commissioner Dorothy A. Ford
- Per the City of Huntsville Agenda’s Page, the City Council is staffed by:
- Sandra Moon
- Will Culver
- Mark Russell (Council President)
- Bill King, Jr.
- Richard Showers, Sr.
Contact information for both boards is included in their web sites. I’ve added the City Council meeting schedule to Neonjade’s Upcoming Events calendar. I did not see a meeting schedule for the HHA, please comment with a link if you find one.
