Brian ChilsonThe Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday approved two new commissioners to join the city’s housing authority, the Metropolitan Housing Alliance.
The appointments came after months of problematic findings and discussions about how to move forward with the troubled commission. The city board appointed Karen Buchanan and Bruce James to fill two vacancies. City officials were expected to make four appointments, but ongoing litigation and a temporary restraining order from Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors on Tuesday afternoon limited the number of appointments that could be made, City Attorney Tom Carpenter said.
The Metropolitan Housing Alliance commission is a five-member board that is typically self-appointing, but too many recent vacancies meant city officials would need to appoint members.
Of the five commissioners, one must live in a property that the housing authority manages. In August, former commissioner Louis Jackson was disqualified from serving because he moved out of a subsidized property.
Around the same time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development assessed the Metropolitan Housing Alliance and labeled the agency “troubled.” The housing authority received a score of 40 out of a possible 100, and HUD noted failures — zeroes — in the financial and management categories.
Not long after that report, HUD also found the housing authority to have its finances questionably intermingled with an associated nonprofit, the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation. About $30 million in “questionable and potentially disallowed” funds was identified between the housing alliance and the nonprofit.
Because of these reports and earlier questions about the commission’s role in finding replacement housing for tenants at the Big Country Chateau apartments, the Little Rock city board called for the removal of all active commissioners on Sept 12. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. sent letters requesting the resignation of four commissioners: chair Lee Lindsey, Branndii Peterson, Leta Anthony and Kerry Wright. Peterson agreed not to run for reappointment after her current term ended, but Lindsey, Anthony and Wright contested.
The three commissioners fighting to keep their positions on the housing board had a hearing scheduled before the city directors and Carpenter on Sept. 26. The city board voted to oust Lindsey and Anthony, but kept Wright on the commission.
The two newly appointed commissioners are expected to join Wright at a meeting on Thursday, where there should be enough members to form a quorum.
Former commissioners Lindsey and Anthony are both suing the city. Records show their attorney is Sylvester Smith, who also represents the Metropolitan Housing Alliance. Smith represented Lindsey and Anthony during their hearings before the city board. Carpenter said Tuesday that because the city directors removed the two from the commission, the housing authority should not bear their legal expenses.
The two additional spots on the commission are expected to remain open until after a hearing on Oct. 31 to determine whether Lindsey and Anthony were inappropriately removed from the housing authority.
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In other news, city officials mourned the loss of City Manager Bruce Moore at their first board meeting since his death on Saturday. A sprawling bouquet of white and blue flowers complemented with greenery sat in Moore’s usual seat.
Brian ChilsonSeveral city members used the tissues placed on their tables and Director Lance Hines delivered a tearful prayer before the meeting began. Scott called for a moment of silence to recognize their late colleague.
At the end of the meeting, Scott announced Emily Cox, who has served as the assistant city manager for nearly a decade, would act as the city manager until further notice. All items on the agenda Tuesday that mentioned the city manager will fall under the responsibility of the office of the city manager, Carpenter said.
