Decatur City Council reappoints Decatur Housing Authority commissioners

DECATUR -- The Decatur City Council, during the Nov. 10 regular meeting, approved the appointments of four people whose names were submitted by the Decatur Housing Authority.

Kenneth Setzer, Fred Thompson, Stacy Brooks and Carl Florer were appointed by the city council to fill seats in accordance with the law which was discussed in detail at last month's meeting.

The Decatur Housing Authority commissioner terms are set for two, three and four years. Kenneth Setzer's term expires at the end of this year, while Carl Florer's expires in December 2015. Fred Thompson's term expires at the end of December 2016 and Stacy Brooks in December 2018. Paula McGhee was the only commissioner whose term was not up for appointment. Her term is expected to expire in December of 2017.

The commissioners must now be sworn in by a county judge to make the process legal.

Paula McGhee, who was appointed secretary of the DHA board, reported to the council that, as of Nov. 15, Northwest Regional Housing Authority in Harrison will take control of the finances and manage the property of the Decatur Housing Authority for the next five years according to the terms of the contract. The housing authority met with Ken McDowell and Jennifer Campbell Oct. 16 to discuss the takeover.

Campbell will assume the executive director position vacated by Debbie Weston.

"Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority will handle all HUD paperwork, train and hire personnel, and pay the bills," Kenneth Setzer, DHA commissioner, said. "They will hire a part-time on-site manager to work 25-28 hours a week, and a part-time maintenance person for approximately 20 hours a week."

These changes were made by HUD's regional office in Little Rock in response to the recent alleged mismanagement of the Decatur Housing Authority by former executive director Weston.

General News on 11/19/2014