Commission revives Wayne County Housing Commission; commissioners seek staffing and funding details
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Summary
During consideration of the economic development report, the commission moved to revive the Wayne County Housing Commission (an ordinance originally passed in 1994) and to appoint directors; commissioners raised questions about staffing, funding sources and the sequence of forming a board before a staffing plan is finalized.
The Wayne County Commission on April 3 advanced items to reestablish and staff the Wayne County Housing Commission, an entity originally created by ordinance in 1994 that has been dormant for about 30 years.
Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick questioned whether the administration had answered committee-level questions about staffing and sustainability before appointing directors. "If we're going to have the housing commission, how are we going to sustain it? What does the staffing look like?" she asked at the full commission meeting.
Huston Shaikh, director of economic development, said the immediate step is to appoint the board and then work with commission staff, the appointees and a hired consulting firm (TDA) to determine appropriate staffing and funding sources. "The first step that we're looking to do is appoint this board. And then from there, we'll be looking at what the the the proper staffing that's gonna be necessary, as well as the the sources, for the funding sources as well," Shaikh said.
The commission chair noted the 1994 ordinance that established the Wayne County Housing Commission and said the administration and commission counsel are reviewing which elements of the original ordinance will remain and where amendments are needed. "In that ordinance, it does outline the role of the administration, the role of the commission, and the role of the board members," the chair said.
Commissioners pressed for clarity about whether the economic development department or the new board would lead the initial structuring work. Shaikh said the department will do legwork alongside appointed board members and outside consultants, stressing that the county does not claim expertise in every aspect and intends to bring external advisers.
The economic development committee report, recommending approval of seven items including the housing commission appointments, was moved and supported and ultimately recorded as carried by the full commission. Commissioners asked administration and counsel to return with clarified staffing plans and any ordinance amendments before the board assumes operational duties.
No specific staffing plan or budget was finalized at the meeting; commissioners requested that the county present a staffing model, funding sources and any proposed ordinance changes for committee review before the housing commission becomes fully operational.
