(A) The Housing Agency of the city shall consist of five members who shall constitute the Housing Agency Board and such persons shall be called the “Commissioners”. Each of such Commissioners shall be appointed for a five-year term or until his or her successor is duly appointed. Each Commissioner’s term shall be staggered so that not more than one Commissioner’s term shall expire in any one year. In the event of the resignation, removal from the area of operation, or death of any Commissioner, such Commissioner’s unexpired term shall be filled by the Mayor with the confirmation of the City Council. Commissioners shall receive no compensation for their duties.
(B) (1) Three Commissioners shall constitute a quorum of the Housing Agency for purposes of conducting its business, exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the Agency upon the vote of the majority of the Commissioners present, unless in any case the by-laws of the Agency shall require a larger number. The Commissioners shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the Commissioners and shall have the power to employ an executive director who shall serve as ex officio Secretary for the Agency. The Agency may also employ legal counsel or it may call upon the chief law officer of the city for such services as it may require. It may employ technical experts and such other officers, agents and employees as it may require and shall determine their qualifications, duties, compensations and terms of office.
(2) The Agency may delegate such other powers and duties to its agents or employees, as it may deem proper. During his or her tenure, and for one year thereafter, no Commissioner, officer or employee of the Housing Agency shall voluntarily acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any project or in any property included or planned to be included in any project, or in any contract or proposed contract relating to any housing project. If any such Commissioner, officer or employee involuntarily acquires any such interest or voluntarily or involuntarily acquired any such interest prior to appointment or employment as Commissioner, officer or employee, he or she shall immediately disclose his or her interest in writing to the Agency, and he or she shall not participate in any action by the Agency relating to the property or contract in which he or she has any interest; provided that, nothing herein shall apply to the acquisition of any interest in notes or bonds of the Agency issued in connection with any housing project, or to the execution of agreements by banking institutions for deposit or handling of funds in connection with a project or to act as trustee under any trust indenture, or to utility services, the rates for which are fixed or controlled by a governmental agency.
(3) Furthermore, all Commissioners shall be subject to the same disclosure and accountability guidelines and regulations as any City Council member. The Mayor may remove a Commissioner for neglect of duty or misconduct in office in the manner prescribed hereinafter. The Mayor shall send a notice of removal to such Commissioner which notice shall contain a statement containing the charges against him or her. Unless within ten days from the receipt of such notice such Commissioner files with the City Clerk a request for a hearing before the City Council, the Commissioner shall be deemed as removed from office. If a request for a hearing is filed with the City Clerk, the City Council shall hold a hearing at which the commissioner shall have the right to appear in person or by counsel, and the City Council shall determine whether the removal shall be disapproved or upheld. If the removal is disapproved, the Commissioner shall continue to hold his or her position. The Housing Agency shall keep an accurate account of all its activities and of all its receipts and disbursements and shall make an annual report to the City Council on all such information.
(Ord. 886, passed 7-10-2006)