Commission tables Porchlight housing-study contract after packet lacks statement of work

The Canton City Commission voted to table approval of a housing-study proposal and service agreement from Porchlight Services after commissioners said the packet contained a blank Exhibit A labeled “Statement of Work.” Staff said corrected attachments would be distributed and that the agreement would be sent to Rick Nelson for review before the item returns to the commission.

Staff and commissioners discussed the scope of the proposed study. One commissioner described Porchlight’s approach as more hands-on than prior studies performed by an out-of-state firm, saying the firm would form a local steering committee, perform drive-through assessments of housing stock, and conduct door-to-door outreach to build a detailed, local picture of housing needs. Commissioners and staff noted the city’s recent housing development on the east edge of town as context for needing a current, local study.

Commissioners raised specific packet issues: the services agreement and the Exhibit A (Statement of Work) did not appear to have loaded in the meeting packet, leaving the deliverables and scope unclear. A motion to table the item carried by roll call; staff said they will provide the corrected Exhibit A and send the materials to Rick Nelson for review prior to the item returning to the commission.

The commission did not approve contract terms, deliverables, or a budget allocation for the study at this meeting. Once the complete packet is provided, the study and agreement will return to the commission for a formal decision.