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Live Oak council discusses limits on altering housing authority board; attorney says statute restricts changes
Summary
City Council members raised complaints about the Live Oak Housing Authority and discussed options to replace or reconfigure its board; the city attorney said state law and existing statutes limit the council’s authority and that legislative change would be required to alter board composition.
Council members for the City of Live Oak discussed complaints about the Live Oak Housing Authority and whether the City Council can remove or replace housing authority commissioners.
The discussion arose during general council business after members said they had received numerous emails about a complaint filed in January about the housing authority executive director. Councilmember Sessions and other council members described frustration with three housing authority board members “not in compliance” and asked whether the council could take control of the authority or otherwise change its composition.
The City Attorney told the council that the housing authority is created and governed by state statute and is intended to be independent of the city council. The attorney said the mayor retains appointment and removal authority under the statutory structure and that, absent action by the housing authority commissioners or a change at the state level, the council is “stuck with the current composition and process for appointment.” The attorney said changing the composition would require revision of the controlling statute (as referenced during the meeting as “04/2005” and “4 21.05”), and that such a change would have to proceed through the state legislature.
Council members discussed alternatives including changing local resolution language, pursuing state-legislative change, and continued engagement with state legislators. Council members referenced emails sent to Senator Simon and Representative Schultz and noted constituent communications from “Miss Karen.” One council member said they did not want to “point fingers at the director” but wanted a legal pathway to address complaints.
Council members also confirmed that the housing authority holds quarterly meetings. No formal motion to remove commissioners or to direct staff to pursue statutory change was recorded in the meeting minutes or the transcript excerpt.
