Housing Authority

In addition to having all powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of the Housing Authorities Act, the following powers are also granted:

1. Powers of Authority. An Authority shall constitute a public body corporate and politic, exercising exclusively public and essential government functions, and having all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and previsions of the Housing Authorities Act, including the following powers in addition to others herein granted:

a. To sue and to be sued; to have a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have perpetual succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the Authority; and to make from time to time amend and repeal bylaws, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the Housing Authorities Act to carry into the powers and purposes of the Authority.

b. Within its area of operation: to prepare, carry out, acquire, lease and operate housing projects; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing project or any part thereof.

c. To arrange or contract for the furnishing by any person or agency, public or private, of services, privileges, works or facilities for, or in connection with, a housing project or occupants thereof; and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, housing Authority Act, or in any other provisions of law) to include in any contract let in connection with a project, stipulations requiring that the contractor and any subcontractors comply with requirements as to minimum wages and maximum hours of labor, and comply with any conditions which the Federal Government may have attached to its financial aid of the project.

d. To lease or rent any dwellings, houses, accommodations, lands, building, structures or facilities embraced in any housing project and (subject to the limitations contained in this Act, Housing Authorities Act) to establish and revise the rents of charges thereof; to own, hold, and improve real or personal property; to purchase, lease, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise any real or personal property or any interest therein, to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property; to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge or dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein; to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the Authority against any risk or hazards; to procure insurance of guarantees from the Federal Government of the payment of any debts or parts thereof (whether or not incurred by said Authority) secured by mortgages on any property included in any of its housing projects.

e. To invest any funds held in reserves of sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, in property or securities in which savings banks may legally invest funds subject to their control; to purchase its bonds at a price not more then the principal amount thereof and accrued interest, all bonds so purchased to be canceled.

f. Within its area of operation: to investigate into living, dwelling and housing conditions and into the means and methods of improving such conditions; to determine where slum areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; to make studies and recommendations relating to the problem of clearing, replanning and reconstruction slum area, and the problem of providing dwelling accommodations for persons of low income, and to cooperate with the city, the county, the State of any political subdivision thereof in action taken in connection with such problems; and to engage in research, studies and experimentation of the subject of housing.

g. Acting through the Housing Authority Board; to conduct examinations and investigations and to hear testimony and take proof under oath at public and private hearings on any matter material for its information; to administer oaths, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses of the production of books and papers and to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses who are outside of the State or unable to attend before the Authority, or excused from attendance; to make available to appropriate agencies (including those charged with the duty of abating or requiring the correction of nuisances or like conditions, or of demolishing unsafe or unsanitary structures within its area of operation) its findings and recommendations with regard to any building or property where conditions exist which are dangerous to the public health, morals, safety or welfare.

h. To exercise all or any part of combinations of powers herein granted.

2. No provision of law with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other public bodies shall be applicable to any authority unless the legislature shall specifically so state.

Members

Alvernon McHenry, Chairman

James R. Coleman, Executive Director

Sara L. Baker

Dr. Reginald Cooper

Paul Hardwick

Elaine B. Eckert

This Board meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:15 PM.