Housing Commission Ordinance Amendment

On Tuesday, the Board will vote on a proposed amendment to the Housing Commission Ordinance, specifically section 400.4.2.4(b). This amendment seeks to strike the phrase “subject to the ratification of the Board of Commissioners” from the ordinance. If passed, this change would remove the Board of Commissioners’ ability to provide input on the appointment of Housing Commission members, leaving the decision solely in the hands of the chair. The Housing Commission would then need to update its bylaws to align with this change.

As a member of the Ottawa County Housing Commission appointed in 2019, I have seen firsthand the value of a transparent and collaborative appointment process. When we reconstituted the Housing Commission that year, the Talent & Recruitment (T&R) Committee was tasked with selecting the initial five members. I was fortunate to be chosen, alongside four other individuals with diverse skill sets and deep experience. The T&R committee did an exceptional job vetting applicants and presenting the Board with a strong slate of candidates. This process ensured that the public had confidence in the selections and that the Board could provide meaningful input.

The amendment proposed for Tuesday’s meeting would eliminate this collaborative approach for all Board seats. While I’m grateful for my reappointment by the Chair in 2025, I believe removing the Board’s role altogether would silence not only its voice but, more critically, the public’s ability to trust in a transparent, accountable appointment process. Although state law grants the Chair final appointment authority, it doesn’t preclude the Board from recommending candidates or engaging in the process. I do not believe that abandoning a robust, public-facing system that ensures both transparancy and accountability in the selection of candidates for this important commission is in the best interest of the Board or residents of Ottawa County