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Commission discusses Stewart Housing Authority vacancies and oversight
Summary
Commissioners and a Housing Authority representative described vacancies, limited outreach and long waiting lists; commissioners asked staff to request a presentation from the housing authority and to suggest candidates for city-appointed seats.
The City Commission on April 28 examined vacancies and oversight questions for the Stewart Housing Authority after commissioners said the authority has not conducted recent evaluations of housing needs and that residents report difficulty obtaining application information.
Why it matters: The Stewart Housing Authority oversees public housing resources that affect low-income residents in the city; commissioners raised concerns about transparency and the authority’s responsiveness.
City Manager Mike Mortel said the commission typically ratifies housing authority appointments but that the most recent city-appointed member resigned. Mortel reported that Stewart’s housing operations are administered under the Fort Pierce Housing Authority and that a temporary arrangement has become longstanding. Mortel asked commissioners to forward names of potential city-resident appointees so staff could solicit applications for ratification at a future meeting.
Commissioner Gioby said the Fort Pierce authority had not performed a 10–15-year evaluation of public-housing needs in Stuart, and he urged reinstituting periodic reviews. Commissioner Clark and other commissioners said residents and staff have had trouble reaching housing authority representatives and that the Stewart Housing Authority’s website showed an unacknowledged vacancy.
Pearl Bell Clark, who spoke from the housing authority, said an audit had been completed and that some reporting and occupancy statistics are included in the city’s financial statements because the authority is a component unit of the city. She and the finance director said the audit and financial reporting data can be provided to the commission.
What’s next: Commissioners asked the city manager to request a formal presentation from the Stewart Housing Authority (or Fort Pierce staff who administer it) so commissioners can better understand operations, vacancies, application processes and whether two appointees from the city would help improve responsiveness. Staff will bring appointee applications to a future agenda for commission selection.
