Richmond Municipal Code Ch. 3.48 Housing Advisory Commission

There is created a city-wide housing advisory commission.

The purpose of this commission is to advise the commissioners of the housing authority on all matters concerning the administration of the housing authority. The commission shall:

(1) Review the operations and proposed activities of the housing authority and submit recommendations to the commissioners of the housing authority. Final decisions with respect to such recommendations shall be made by the commissioners of the housing authority;

(2) Communicate with tenants and tenant organizations at the housing authority concerning housing problems and potential solutions;

(3) Establish and maintain working relationships with organizations responsible for public housing development in the city;

(4) Perform such duties as may from time to time be requested by the commissioners of the housing authority.

The Commission shall consist of seven members who shall not be officers or employees of the Housing Authority or the City of Richmond and who shall be appointed by the City Council. Any vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by appointment by the City Council for the unexpired portion of the term of the appointee's predecessor. Two of those appointed to this Commission shall be tenants of the Housing Authority and one tenant shall be over 62 years of age if the Authority has tenants of such age. Successors of tenant members shall be tenants of the Authority, and if a tenant member ceases to be a tenant of the Authority, he shall be disqualified as a member. The other members may be appointed from such backgrounds and interests as the Council may select.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 5-86 N.S.)

The term of each member of the commission shall be two years; provided, however, that the terms of the members first appointed after the effective date of this section shall be as follows:

Of the initial members, four shall be appointed to serve for two years, and three shall be appointed to serve for one year, as determined by lot by such members at the first regular scheduled meeting following the adoption of this chapter.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 34-82 N.S., 22-85 N.S. and 19-87 N.S.)

The commission shall hold its first meeting within thirty days after all of its members have been appointed. At such meeting, the commission shall fix the time and place of regularly scheduled meetings which shall not be less than once each month. All meetings of said commission shall be open to the public.

The absence of any member of the commission from more than three regularly scheduled meetings of the commission within any twelve-consecutive-months period shall constitute an automatic resignation from the commission. Such a resignation shall not, however, disqualify an individual from subsequently being appointed to the same, or any other, city committee, board or commission. In the event of any such resignation, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term of the appointee's predecessor in the manner prescribed in Section 3.48.030.

The commission shall nominate from among their own number one candidate for chairperson, one for vice-chairperson, and one for recording secretary. The nominations shall be thereafter forwarded to the city council who shall then appoint the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and recording secretary. In the case of a vacancy in the office of chairperson, vice-chairperson, or recording secretary, the commission shall select a nominee to succeed the vacated officer to serve for the balance of the predecessor's term. The council may then appoint said nominated successor.

The commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of business of the commission which rules shall, among other things, include the manner of calling and giving notices of special meetings and hearings and the appointment and powers of standing subcommittees. Said standing subcommittees may be formed to work on various topics within the scope of public housing. The commission shall keep records of its resolutions, rules, transactions, motions, orders, findings, recommendations and determinations which shall be open to the public.

(Source: Ordinance No. 14-76 N.S.)

Members of the Commission shall receive compensation at the rate of twelve dollars and fifty cents per Commission meeting attended, not to exceed twenty-five dollars per month. In order to qualify for said compensation, a member of the Commission must be in attendance at a meeting from the call of roll to the adjournment of the meeting.

(Added by Ordinance No. 18-84 N.S.)