Goshen board weighs activating dormant housing authority created under 1970s law

Summary

The board discussed whether to activate a housing authority created by a 1970s legislative petition. Members flagged that the authority would be a distinct legal entity able to buy property and bond independently, and asked staff and counsel to research statutory powers and oversight before deciding whether to keep, activate, or surrender the authority.

Supervisor told the board that the Town of Goshen petitioned the legislature in the 1970s and retains an enabling housing authority statute on the books. The question posed to the board was whether to activate that authority, leave it dormant, or surrender it.

Board members and commenters noted that a housing authority would be separate from the town board, with potential powers to issue bonds, purchase property, and manage housing assets independent of the town budget. Members expressed concern about the ability of an unelected authority to incur debt or manage assets without direct town oversight and asked the supervisor to obtain clarifying guidance from the senator's office and counsel on whether town board members may serve on the authority and what financial safeguards exist.

The board did not make a final decision and requested additional legal research and a timeline for next steps.