Council debates housing-authority appointments after counsel cites O'Keefe precedent; Marquise Lewis initially introduced then sent back to administration

At the pre-meeting of the Newark Municipal Council, the mayor’s selections for two advisory and governing bodies were presented: Marquise Aquil Lewis for the Newark Housing Authority Board and Deputy Mayor Rahman Mohammed for the Affirmative Action Review Council.

Marquise Aquil Lewis gave an opening statement about his background: "I am a product of Stellar Right Projects ... My mother still live in North Housing Authority. I'm a product of North Housing Authority, and I believe that my, experience of being an employee and also being a product of the housing started bringing some new energy," and said he would put residents and employees "at the front of the agenda every meeting and every moment that I serve."

Councilman Gonzales asked Lewis about "a possibility of a substantial privatization of the units at the housing authority," prompting objection and an instruction from the City’s corporation counsel. Kenyatta Stewart, City of North Corporation Counsel, advised the council that Gonzales’s question raised a serious issue but that Lewis could decline to comment; Lewis replied, "No comment at this time, councilman." Council members then congratulated Lewis.

Deputy Mayor Rahman Mohammed was introduced for appointment to the Affirmative Action Review Council and offered brief remarks about fixing the committee and bringing his expertise. Council members moved to sponsor and second Mohammed for the chair of that council.

Later in the meeting Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart reported she had reviewed a legal document and briefed the council on precedent. Stewart said the O'Keefe case remains controlling and "we cannot have more than 1 employee or officer" as a member of the housing authority board. Based on that legal limit, the administration was asked to take the appointment back for further review; a city official stated: "As a result we're gonna ask that the appointment be sent back to administration."

Public comment addressed the same issue. Felicia Singleton stated that Lewis could not be on the board because he "hasn't been away from the housing authority long enough" and said city officials must "abide by laws." The transcript shows the council directed follow-up and that the appointment paperwork would be returned to administration for correction or resubmission based on counsel's interpretation of the O'Keefe precedent.

The transcript records the nominations, congratulations, and the later legal guidance and administrative return, but does not show a binding final vote on any seat in the provided segment.