HUD decision on city council member in hands of attorneys (mlive)

mlive
(1/23/2013 4:44 PM, Sarah Stonestreet)
Attorneys for the city of Jackson and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are hoping to work out whether the appointment of a city council member to the Jackson Housing Commission is a conflict of interest.

The move comes after a recent opinion sent to the Housing Commission by HUD officials, saying the appointment of city council member Derek Dobies to the commission is a conflict of interest.

The discussion of HUD's statement came during Wednesday's commission meeting after City Manager Patrick Burtch, who also sits on the Housing Commission, requested that any future sought-after legal opinions be made with the permission of the board.

The Housing Commission is close to exceeding the legal budget, he said.

Housing Commission Director Herman Hill stated he had received permission from the previous board to seek an opinion from HUD.

"I was concerned because I always thought it was a conflict of interest but I still feel that," Hill said.

"I still have to do my due diligence and respect the boardmy position still is I think it's a conflict but my position doesn't matter. This is a matter HUD is going to have to deal with. At some point I think it's going to be resolved one way or another."

Hill maintains that having Dobies on the commission restricts its abilities, since he is also a member of the City Council.

"They are going to make a decision and we're going to abide by that decision."

It is unclear when the attorneys could return to the Housing Commission with a legal opinion on how to proceed with Dobies' appointment.

The commission on Wednesday also voted that any future contracts or incurred costs from a law firm, or any other firms, need approval from the board.

Newly-appointed chair Arlene Robinson and commissioner Patricia Davis-Dye abstained from voting on that issue.

"It's so many changes in the last 30 days, all I can do is shake my head," Robinson said.

"I'm the chair of the board a month ago I had no knowledge this was going to happen. All the changes, people have to have the opportunity to absorb what has happened. I'm not trying to negative, I'm just trying to understand."

He says safety is the number one reason for the overhaul.

"We were having brown outs during peak usage time and we've even had three very small fires as a result of worn insulation on the overhead lights," Gille said.

Gille says work should begin as early as next week. Construction could take four to six months.