Asheville council approves reduction of Housing Authority board amid public outcry over removals

The Asheville City Council voted to approve a consent-agenda resolution on Feb. 11 that reduces the Asheville Housing Authority board from 11 members to nine and will eliminate one resident-designated seat.

The reduction was included on the consent agenda and passed on a voice vote. Council members were not named during the roll call; the mayor introduced the item and said the change would reverse a recent increase the council had made from seven to 11 members and would require the mayor to appoint replacements as vacancies occur. The mayor said she has interviewed several candidates and that a resident seat created by the change would be filled following the vacancy.

City Attorney (unnamed) told the council the relevant state statute — referenced in the meeting as “state statute 157.5” — obliges the mayor to appoint a person who is served by the housing authority when a member who is served by the authority leaves. The attorney also said the statute contemplates a possible delay between removal and appointment and that another…