Fayetteville Housing Authority gets bank signatures in order, discusses organizational audit

File photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN The Fayetteville Housing Authority sign is seen Aug. 1 at Hillcrest Towers, 1 N. School Ave., in Fayetteville.
File photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN The Fayetteville Housing Authority sign is seen Aug. 1 at Hillcrest Towers, 1 N. School Ave., in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Housing Authority will select a chairman at its next meeting and signed off on the concept of an organizational audit.

Authority board members met in a special session Wednesday to replace former Chairman Mike Emery's name on its three bank accounts. Two signatures are required to write any checks, which typically has been the board chairman and the Housing Authority director.

Vacancies

Fayetteville’s Housing Authority board has two spots it needs to fill on its five-member panel. The City Clerk’s Office is advertising for applications. The City Council will have to confirm the new appointments. To apply, go to bit.ly/fayboards. The deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 17. For more information, call 575-8323 or email cityclerk@fayettevi….

Source: Staff report

Emery resigned as of Friday, effectively halting the authority's financial business. The board agreed to let Commissioner Melissa Terry serve as the second signature, and to have her serve as chairwoman of the special meeting.

The authority's attorney, Jim Crouch, recommended the board hold off on designating a successor to Emery until its Aug. 29 meeting.

The board's bylaws state the board can do what it wants during a special meeting, as long as all board members are present, Crouch said. However, further language stipulates a new board chairman shall be elected at the board's next regular meeting, he said.

"Would it be illegal to elect a succeeding board chair? Perhaps not," Crouch said. "To me, the safe thing is to wait until your next meeting."

Emery stated in a letter to the city the past two years had been incredibly stressful, and he had seen a side of local politics he never wanted to see again. Former Commissioner Chris White resigned in July, leaving three members on the five-member panel.

Commissioner Debra Humphrey, the board's public-housing resident representative, made a motion to end the meeting after the financial situation was resolved. It was the only item on the board's agenda.

At one point, Humphrey got up to leave, but her motion to adjourn didn't get a second. She sat back down, and Terry then brought up a series of things to discuss, including getting an organizational audit for the Housing Authority.

Angela Belford, chairwoman of the regional Continuum of Care, which tackles homelessness, offered the service to the board for $9,000. Belford has had a contract with the authority since March last year as its web provider. Terry proposed adding the audit service to Belford's contract.

"My perception from the community is that you guys need a little bit of help," Belford said.

Humphrey and Executive Director Deniece Smiley said the board should get other offers for the service before agreeing to select Belford. Smiley said the next fiscal year's budget is still up in the air.

"We've had all these conversations in the past about being transparent and you are trying to force something through without getting a full round of all the qualified vendors," Smiley said. "As being good stewards, I think that needs to be done."

Commissioner Lucky McMahon said an organizational audit seemed outside the scope of Belford's original contract, but she wanted to learn more about the proposal.

The board ultimately decided to agree to the concept but solicit responses for an organizational audit service. Board members will discuss the matter at its next meeting.

Tensions have been high since last year. Public outcry over what to do with one of the authority's properties, Willow Heights at 10 S. Willow Ave., reached a fever pitch in the last few weeks. A plan to sell the property and move residents to an expansion of another property the authority manages, Morgan Manor at 324 E. 12th Place, has received criticism. Several members of the public called for renovating Willow Heights instead.

The City Council held a special meeting July 24 and made six recommendations to the authority regarding its annual and five-year plans.

NW News on 08/09/2018

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