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263 <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she is not hearing a tot of agreement on the composition of a <br />future board, which is why it is important to have a temporary board and not make new <br />appointments. Ms. Richards said that tenant representation is important though there are <br />other ways to bring in that representation. Ms. Richards said that she feels it is <br />interesting that having public housing residents on Housing Authorities only exists in a <br />minority of authorities in the State. Ms. Ri chards said that the composition of the <br />Authority will be driven by the future mission of the Authority. If redevelopment is to be <br />a focus, there will be a need for business representative, realtors or appointment of a <br />different board. Ms. Richards said she ,vould like to examine more the composition of <br />other housing authorities in Virginia and other states and to look to the best managed <br />authorities and see what their structure is. Ms. Richards said she would like more data <br />and until then would favor a caretaker board to guide the Authority and hire a director. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said there is a trend nationally for greater resident involvement in <br />management. Mr. Cox said he is not clear if a caretaker board could include <br />characteristics that would help guide proper management and meet the administration's <br />needs. Mr. Cox said he would favor pulling together a power house caretaker board for a <br />year with no Councilors on it. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said that Mr. Cox's suggestion would mean putting almost all new <br />people on the board at a time when the Authority has no director or housing manager. <br />Ms. Richards noted that current Council members on the Authority have two years' <br />experience with the Authority. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that staff is what is maintaining the Housing Authority and he is not <br />sure that Council representation is necessary. Mr. Cox said he would favor people who <br />have experience with business and finance as well as residents. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said that while she agrees with Mr. Cox in the long-term, Council <br />does not have those people lined up and a board is needed now. Ms. Daugherty said she <br />feels it is Council's job to take responsibility. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said he feels it is important for three Councilors to be on the Board, <br />as a new director will want continuity. Mr. Toscano said that too much change would <br />likely be too disruptive for someone who wants the job. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said she would like feedback from Council about whether they <br />would favor having the director be under the supervision of the City Manager. Ms. <br />Daugherty said she feels that doing so would give the Housing Authority a direct link <br />with City staff, much like other department heads, and would provide the director <br />supervision by a professional person. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would like to know what the decision was made to remove the <br />director from under the supervision of the City Manager. Mr~ Cox said he would favor <br />having the director supervised by the City Manager, noting that it would give director <br />candidates reassurance that they would be dealing with a stable situation, especially if <br />three Councilors are taken off the board. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that regardless of how the director is supervised, there needs <br />to be a link with the City on day to day housing decisions. Mr. O'Connell said that an <br />issue is that the connection to the City Manager would be a unique set up, and noted that <br />the same effect could be made by having the Authority Board give policy direction to the <br />director. Mr. O'Connell expressed concern that the lines of authority can be unclear if the <br />director is supervised by the City Manager but must answer to the Authority Board. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he feels it is difficult for a Councilor to fill the role of Chair of the <br />Authority Board and has the effect of over stretching Councilors. Mr. Cox said it would <br />take the burden offthe Chair to have the link with the City Manager and have the Board <br />become a policy setting board. Mr. Cox said he feels there is a conflict with tenant <br />members deciding on the fate of the director. Mr. Cox said that if tenant members are <br />kept, this issue needs to be resolved so the conflict is removed. Mr. Cox said that if the <br />City Manager supervises the director that conflict might be resolved. <br /> <br /> <br />