MONTICELLO – Inquiries over who chooses the Monticello Housing Authority Board took center stage last Wednesday night during the Village of Monticello Board meeting, as a resident from Evergreen Apartments came before the board questioning the selection process for tenant representatives.

Evergreen resident Whitney Mitchell wanted to know if residents would have the ability to choose two individuals to represent them on the Housing Authority Board, which oversees the Evergreen housing complex on Evergreen Drive in Monticello and is a separate public entity of the Village of Monticello government.

“That’s on record that we can pick who we want and who we trust,” Mitchell said following the board’s confirmation that residents have a say in choosing representatives.

Deputy Mayor John Barbarite clarified that the first step for residents is to circulate a petition naming the individual they want to serve on the board. He said the petition would need 25 signatures before an election would be held, where Evergreen residents would vote on the candidates.

However, Mitchell expressed frustration that residents don’t have much of a say in who serves on the Housing Authority Board.

Barbarite further explained that Village Mayor Rochelle Massey appoints five members to the Housing Authority Board, while tenants select two representatives.

Radio Catskill recently reported that members of the Monticello Housing Authority Board abruptly resigned, with four commissioners and former executive Director Marc Starling submitting their formal resignation letters last Thursday and Friday.

Mitchell also wanted to know where residents could obtain the necessary paperwork, with Barbarite confirming that a copy of the petition could be sent to her by Village Manager James Snowden.

The discussion follows the appointment by the village board of Helen Jersey and Tyriek Whidbee to the Monticello Housing Authority Board. Jersey will serve a term running until June 17, 2031, while Whidbee will serve until Aug. 21, 2030.

During her mayor’s comments, Massey commended the former Housing Authority Board members for their service, noting that their “time, effort, and expertise” had made a meaningful difference.

During the public comment session, Trustee Theodore Hutchins addressed the Evergreen residents in attendance, telling them that the village is working to strengthen the Housing Authority.

“We just want to assure you that we are putting together a board and HUD [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] and the management company are working diligently to make sure that the services that you guys are supposed to be getting, you are getting,” Hutchins said.

He noted that the Housing Authority’s management company, HUD and a financial company will assist with operations while the new Housing Authority Board is re-established.

“They are assisting,” Hutchins said. “They are going to be having personnel assisting us over there until we get the board.”