Ferndale Finds a Way: City to Appoint Two New Housing Commissioners
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 24, 2015)
As residents in the Ferndale Housing program await the results of a HUD Review into the numerous issues of the Ferndale Housing Commission, the City is taking what action it can.
While the City of Ferndale was thought to have little oversight into the actions of the Commission, they do have the power of appointing the members who serve on the commission. An initial look at the laws governing housing commissions seemed that there could be no overlap between Council and the Housing Commission. But, thanks to research done by City Attorney Dan Christ, a Councilperson is able to serve.
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Martin is expected to fill a seat that was left vacant by a Tom Schimansky’s resignation in December, and resident Ann Heler is expected to replace Commission President Don Wiggins whose term expires May 16.
Terms last for five years and are filled on a rotating basis, with one new member per year for the five-member board. Martin and Heler will join Ryan Hertz, Paul Stuart, and resident Carole Morency to lead the calls for change within the commission.
Martin is the Mayor Pro Tem and works in administration at Blue Cross with extensive community involvement behind him. Heler is also an active citizen, who helped start Citizens for Fair Ferndale and is the Chair of the FernCare Free Clinic. She also does social work for a living.
Martin’s appointment is only possible because Ferndale has a population of under 25,000. This decision is based on a 1993 legal opinion regarding Benton Harbor’s Housing Commission.
Mayor Dave Coulter and City staff had been researching solutions to the oversight problem when the issues began to emerge in the media after Wilson’s arrest. “As a public body it’s important the Housing Commission conducts its business in a way that’s transparent and honors the rights of the residents,” Mayor Coulter said.
“As a public official already, Dan Martin not only brings this understanding to board but he’s also uniquely qualified to offer suggestions to us on how the city might support the Commission in the future. Together with Ann’s passion for people and interest in housing issues, I’m confident we’re adding two people who can make an immediate and positive contribution to public housing in Ferndale.”
The issues at the Ferndale Housing Commission were so numerous that HUD decided to send an inspector to do a full review of the organization, the results of which will be available in May.
Residents spoke out about public areas being locked, threats made when they tried to organize resident groups, policies that said people could be evicted if they complained, the lack of public comment at public meetings, and warnings about socializing with each other.
The Housing Commission runs two apartment buildings that house seniors, low income residents and people with disabilities. For many, mobility is a challenge and their neighbors are their main source of companionship. In addition to rules that stifled discussion, residents faced bedbug and roach infestation, a lack of air conditioning, and issues with maintenance requests and costs.
The Commission also faced recently settled two lawsuits based on their administration of a Section 8 Housing Voucher Program. The Commission had policies that were more stringent than HUD policies, and those policies were used to deny vouchers to two individuals based on neighborhood blight. Lawsuits claimed this policy was racially motivated to prevent Detroit residents from keeping vouchers.
While Wilson was in charge she refused to even speak to the attorney for the voucher holders. After her departure, the Commission was pressured into having public comment by the City, and finally faced the issues addressed. They settled the two claims, yet an administrative error caused one of the women to be denied again for the voucher. A lawsuit had to be filed with the commission to compel them to adhere to the settlement they had agreed to, resulting in another vote to restore the voucher in light of their mistake. Attorney Bob Day and many residents came to City Council in early April to share their concerns and ask for help. Day said that in 20 years of practice he’d never seen anything like the administration of the Ferndale Housing Program.
Decisions to keep the same administration, same accountant, same auditor, and same attorney raised skepticism as did the scant budget process.
The results of the HUD review will be released in May, right before Martin and Heler serve for their first meeting. “I am looking forward to contributing to the Housing Commission. While the City has limited jurisdiction in relation to the Housing Commission, they are a significant portion of our City and I am very motivated to build a stronger future partnership. Ensuring housing options at all levels is vital to the health of our community,” Martin said.
The new Commissioners are expected to be appointed at the Ferndale City Council meeting on May 27, which is at Ferndale City Hall 300 E. 9 Mile Road, at 7pm.
The Ferndale Housing Commission meeting is May 20 at Withington Apartments, 415 Withington at 4pm.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/06/19/protesters-claim-racism-in-ferndale-housing-commission-dispute/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/06/housing-director-arrested-on-suspicion-of-entering-apartment-stealing-pills/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/20/seniors-hope-to-regain-their-voice-as/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/22/directors-arrest-just-tip-of-housing-commission-problems-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/21/hud-review-coming-and-changes-happening-at-ferndale-housing-commission/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/22/former-ferndale-housing-director-pleads-no-contest-to-home-invasion-drug-possession/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/18/after-drug-and-home-invasion-plea-ferndale-housing-director-gets-130000-payout-from-commission/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/26/housing-director-convicted-of-entering-seniors-apartments-stealing-medication-gets-probation/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/03/10/former-housing-director-violates-probation-faces-new-sentence-for-entering-homes-and-stealing-medicine-from-seniors/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/04/14/residents-ask-ferndale-city-council-for-help-with-housing-commission-complaints-video/