Westerly residents raise safety and management complaints at public housing hearing; council appoints resident-backed candidate

Carrie Clark, a resident of Parkview Apartments, told the Westerly Town Council that seniors at the development feel "treated like prisoners" and described what she said were years of unaddressed complaints about management conduct, persistent mold and a lack of responsiveness from the housing authority (Carrie Clark). Clark said residents had repeatedly tried to contact the executive director and the board without results and asked the council for guidance and accountability.

Council members responded with expressions of concern and said they would follow up. Council Vice President Phil Overton and other members pledged to meet privately with the town manager and to increase council oversight of the housing authority where possible. The town solicitor and clerk reminded the council that the housing authority operates under state law, which governs term lengths and appointment authority.

The council considered two nominees to fill a vacancy on the Westerly Housing Authority. Cheryl Hoke, identified as a retired resident services coordinator for Parkview and Chestnut Court with a petition of resident support, was contrasted with David Mitchell, whose background staff described as maintenance and facilities work and who some councilors said would be a stronger, more forceful personality. Several councilors said Mitchell had "bad-mouthed" the executive director during his interview; others said a tough voice might be necessary to effect change.

After discussion and nominations, Councilors voted first on Mitchell and then on Hoke. Mitchell's nomination did not carry; the council then voted unanimously to appoint Cheryl Hoke to the housing authority. Council members also recorded a desire to reestablish a council liaison to the housing authority to improve communication.

The council and staff clarified the limits of local authority: while the council appoints authority board members, the executive director is hired by that board and the authority follows state enabling law. The solicitor said the council could petition the state for statutory changes but that immediate remedies must proceed within the current framework.

Next steps noted at the meeting included an invitation for the town manager to follow up with the Parkview residents, consideration of more council presence at housing-authority meetings, and a sidebar meeting between residents and the manager to collect further details and contact information.