Committee approves ordinance change to align Housing Commission chair appointment with statute

The Appointment and Alignment Committee voted May 13 to approve and forward to the full Board of Commissioners a proposed amendment to County Ordinance 400.402.04(b) that removes the phrase “subject to the ratification of the Board of Commissioners.” Committee members said the change would align the county ordinance with state statute and allow the Housing Commission chair-selection process to proceed without mandatory board ratification while preserving transparency.

Members debated an amendment to replace the word “ratification” with “advice,” which would have preserved a nonbinding role for the Board of Commissioners to provide input. The amendment failed on a roll call; committee members then approved the original motion to strike the ratification language.

Discussion at the meeting focused on whether the statute (cited by a committee member as Section 125.654, subsection 1) requires any board role; litigation counsel and members differed over whether the statute is silent or implies board involvement. Proponents of keeping a board role argued “advice” would preserve public application and transparency; opponents said the statute allows the chief administrative officer (the county chair) to appoint and that adding a requirement could conflict with state law.

Committee members approved the ordinance amendment by roll-call/voice vote and forwarded it to the full board. The committee did not name a candidate for the Housing Commission chair during the meeting; committee members noted that the Housing Commission itself could revise its bylaws to align with the amended ordinance.