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269 <br /> <br />Ms. Heule said that public housing residents have more knowledge about public housing <br />than others and Councilors haven't experienced life in public housing. Ms. Heule said <br />that public housing residents have faith in the spirit of its own people and stand by the <br />right of people to govern themselves. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox expressed concern that no public comment ,,vas allowed in the work <br />session and onlY one person has been allowed to speak about the composition. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty noted that Councilors have heard many times from many people <br />who are in attendance at the meeting, and stressed that she hopes to involve those <br />interested in the focus groups to be formed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said that the proposed interim board would include three <br />Councilors, one representative from the community at large and one resident of public <br />housing for a limited period of time. Ms. Daugherty said that she thinks this proposal is a <br />good idea and encouraged resident participation. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said that two issues have been raised about governance on the <br />Housing Authority Board: 1) training residents in the way the Housing Authority works <br />and 2) how to involve residents in the critical short-term issue of hiring a director. Mr. <br />Toscano recommended that the Housing Authority find money to provide training <br />sessions for residents and that there be broad representative from public housing residents <br />on the interview panel for the director. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said she would like to recruit communky members to help plan the <br />focus groups. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she would be interested in finding out from other Housing <br />Authority boards how they choose members or the mechanism they use for tenants to <br />make choices regarding representation. Ms. Richards said she is also interested in <br />training for all boards. Ms. Richards said she does not want to see public housing <br />representation diminished, but there are a number of issues now and a plan needs to be <br />mapped out for the future. Ms. Richards said she is interested in investigating tenant <br />management. Ms. Richards noted that a recent survey of Housing Authorities in Virginia <br />showed that there are only a few resident members. Ms. Richards said that while she <br />does not view conflict of interest by residents to be a serious concern, it was brought to <br />Council's attention by a citizen and that question should be resolved. <br /> <br />Mr. Caravati said that Council could consider holding a limited public hearing before the <br />second reading of the ordinance. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that the issue could be taken off the agenda and a public hearing be <br />held before the next meeting. Mr. Cox said that Council has nothing to gain but anger of <br />public housing residents and their disenfranchisement if it moves forward without public <br />comment. Mr. Cox made a motion to remove the item from the agenda and hold a public <br />hearing at the next meeting. Mr. Cox's motion died for lack of a second. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said that he is disturbed that no Councilor raised the issue of a public <br />hearing before now and is concerned that people were given the impression they would <br />be allowed to speak. Mr. Toscano said that he would support a public hearing before the <br />second reading. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano made a motion to approve the ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE <br />AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTION 2-37 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 2 <br />OF THE CODE OTHE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 2990, AS AMENDED, <br />RELATING TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF <br />THE CHARLOTTESVILLE REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY," <br />with a sunset date of June 30, t999. Ms. Richards seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that he feels a sense of urgency and would prefer an earlier <br />sunset date. <br /> <br /> <br />