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Joint Blackstone Housing Authority appointment fails; board declines to fill tenant seat
Summary
A joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and remaining Blackstone Housing Authority members considered two tenant-applicant files; one candidate was present but the joint body voted 5–2 against appointing her, and members asked the housing authority to re-advertise and return with more applicants.
The Board of Selectmen and the Blackstone Housing Authority met jointly March 11 to fill a tenant-member vacancy on the Authority. The vacancy followed a resignation that the clerk received in December for a July resignation letter dated July 22.
Two people had submitted applications at different times; one applicant, Dwanna (Duana) Ryan, attended the meeting and addressed the joint body. Ryan described herself as a resident of 15 Foxbrook Manor, a member of the town finance committee and an advocate for seniors who wanted to serve as a tenant member on the housing authority.
Board discussion focused on procedural confusion in how the vacancy was publicized and how applications were handled. Town staff said a notice of vacancy had not been apparent to the clerk until December; an application allegedly filed in September was found in a file this afternoon, and another applicant communicated that she no longer wished to be considered. Board members said they were uncomfortable approving an appointment given inconsistent records and late notification.
A motion to appoint Dwanna Ryan to the tenant seat was made and seconded; the roll call on the motion was recorded as five yeas to two nays and the motion failed. The board recorded the vote as 5–2 and instructed the housing authority to re-advertise the vacancy and return with additional applicants.
Why it matters: Joint appointments to the housing authority fill a seat that represents tenants and affects oversight of the town’s public housing. The board emphasized process transparency and clarity about when and how vacancies are publicized and verified.
Clarifications from the meeting: Town staff said the vacancy resignation letter was dated July 22 and stamped received by the clerk on Dec. 4; staff re-sent the vacancy notice to tenants in December and again afterward. One file from Sept. 3 surfaced today; one applicant who had been contacted told the clerk she no longer wished to be considered as of this afternoon. The board asked the housing authority to re-advertise, gather applicants and return for a future joint appointment meeting.
Next steps: The housing authority and town clerk will re-advertise the vacancy and collect applications. The board suggested waiting the required notice window (the town’s notice process includes a 14-day posting) and return to a future joint meeting when more candidates are available.
No permanent appointment was made at this session.
