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Two Housing Action Committee leaders resign, cite slow town action on workforce housing
Summary
After a contentious meeting that forwarded a displacement plan to town council, the committee chair and the vice chair announced immediate resignations, saying the committee lacks the ability to produce timely outcomes.
The chair and the vice chair of the Town of Hilton Head Island Housing Action Committee announced resignations at the May 14 meeting, citing frustration with the pace and effectiveness of town action on workforce housing.
"After this meeting concludes today, I'll be resigning as chair and as a member of the town of Hilton Head Island Housing Action Committee," said the committee chair (name not specified in the transcript). In a longer statement the chair argued the committee has been relegated to "routine affirmation of reports from town staff" rather than being empowered to produce outcomes.
Vice chair Sandy (last name not specified in the transcript) also announced an immediate resignation. In her remarks she said she had "spent a great deal of time evaluating, seeking some counsel, and frankly, in prayer" before deciding to step down and accused some council members of slowing progress on key initiatives. "Meaningful action has failed to materialize," she said, adding she will "continue to focus on housing outside of HAC."
Both leaders cited multi-year delays on initiatives they view as central to workforce housing: the displacement plan, a communications plan and an RFQ for the Bryant Road tract. The chair said some of those projects have "lingered for 2 full years without resolution." Vice chair Sandy said the committee was formed in 2003 (the transcript says 02/2003) and was renamed to signal urgency, but that urgency has not translated into action.
Committee members responded with expressions of gratitude for the departing leaders' service and asked procedural questions about how replacements will be appointed. Town staff said appointments to fill committee positions are made by town council and the committee can select a chair and vice chair at its next meeting under its rules of procedure.
The resignations came immediately after a 6-2 vote to forward the revised Housing Displacement Mitigation Support Plan to town council. Several committee members said they remain committed to the plan and to continuing work with community partners despite leadership changes.
