Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. will initiate the process of dissolving the board of the city’s public housing authority, based on concerns from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and employees at the agency.
The Little Rock Housing and Urban Development field office requested a meeting with Scott on June 25 to share “serious concerns” about the Metropolitan Housing Alliance Board of Commissioners, Scott told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday evening.
He added that he had gotten emails and phone calls from employees who expressed concerns about the role and authority of the board as well fiduciary responsibility with the board’s ongoing Rental Assistance Demonstration projects.
Scott said the local Housing and Urban Development office gave him the options of either dissolving the board or removing the chair.
To initiate the process to dissolve the board and reappoint commissioners, the city attorney must first issue a notice of consideration to dissolve. The decision will ultimately fall to the city Board of Directors.
The agency has undergone several changes in executive leadership in the past couple of years. Its current executive director, Anthony Snell, submitted his resignation to the board in June. His last day will be July 9.
In a special meeting midday Thursday, the board selected Nadine Jarmon, executive director of the housing authority in Deerfield Beach, Fla., as its interim executive director.
Read Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.