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52 <br /> <br /> It was agreed that Councilors would discuss the matter <br />with former Councilors and would continue the.discussion <br />after budget time. <br /> <br />Housing Authority <br /> <br /> Mr~. Vandever stated that currently the City Manager is <br />also the Executive Director ~of the Housing Authority and <br />recommended that consideration be given to removing the iCity <br />Manager's authority over the~Housing Authority Director. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she felt, the staff linkage to the <br />Housing.Authority was important, especially given the other <br />housing issues with which the city is concerned. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Toscan°, seConded by Ms. Slaughter, <br />Council unanimously voted to meet in executive session to <br />discuss the role of the Housing Authority Director as <br />exempted by Section 2.1-344~ (a)(1) of~the~Virginia Freedom of <br />Information Act. <br /> <br /> Council reconvened in open session and, on motion by Ms. <br />Waters, seconded by Rev. Edwards, unanimously certified that, <br />to the best of each member's knowledge, (i) only public <br />business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting <br />requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the executive <br />meeting to which this certification resolution applies~, and <br />(ii) o~ly such public business mattes as were identified in <br />the motion convening the executive meeting were heard, <br />discussed or considered by the Council. <br /> <br /> Ms,, Slaughter questioned Whether the Housing Authority <br />should take On an expanded role to coOrdinate other housing <br />issues fo:r the City. ~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated .that he was concerned about the <br />technical nature of the Housing AuthoritY regulations and <br />would like to have more experience before makinga final <br />decision and.would also like to talk further with Mr. <br />Chapman, Mr. Hendrix, and Mr. Huja about coordinating housing <br />issues. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that in the future he would favor <br />moving toward, making Mr. Pullen the Executive Director of the <br />Housing Authority. <br /> <br /> It was the sense of several members of Council that this <br />change be made over a short period of time. <br /> <br />Staff Needs <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that staff have been working on ways <br />to deliver better customer service. Mr. Hendrix requested <br />direction from Council regarding his proposal to freeze 3% of <br />departmental budgets in response to a $300,000 shortfall in <br />state funds. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that departments would move forward with <br />freezing 3% of their budgets, with the final decision to be <br />made by Council as to what is permanently frozen. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stressed that Council and staff may not be <br />able to travel as they have in the past due to the budget <br />situation. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters agreed that travel may have to be cut back,~ <br />but she would not favor cutting out travel completely as she <br />felt it is valuable for professional deVelopment. <br /> <br />Other <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she felt the Council should <br /> <br /> <br />