MONTICELLO — Following recent questions surrounding the Monticello Housing Authority and its Board of Commissioners, Village Attorney Michael Sussman sought to clarify the Village of Monticello’s role in the public housing agency during the recent Village Board meeting.

The clarification follows a discussion at the board’s previous meeting, when Evergreen resident Whitney Mitchell questioned who selects Housing Authority commissioners and whether residents have a role in selecting tenant representatives.

Mitchell was previously told that Mayor Rochelle Massey appoints five commissioners, while tenants select two representatives through a petition and election process.

The discussion came as the Housing Authority undergoes a period of transition following the resignation of its commissioners and executive director.

Sussman told the board and public that while the village has an interest in the Housing Authority’s success and the viability of its properties, the agency is a separate entity governed by its own state and federal requirements, commissioners and executive director.

“There seems to have been a lot of confusion,” Sussman observed, emphasizing that the village does not have operational authority over the Housing Authority or its facilities.

Following the resignations, Massey appointed new commissioners, while efforts to secure a new executive director remain underway.

Sussman did note that the village has provided temporary financial assistance to the Housing Authority because the agency has been unable to access its own funds.

The assistance was intended to ensure employees could be paid and that services to residents would continue without interruption.

According to the village, approximately 600 residents receive housing assistance through the Housing Authority, while another roughly 90 residents live in its public housing.

While acknowledging that residents and members of the community may have concerns regarding conditions at the properties, Sussman stressed that day-to-day operations remain the responsibility of the Housing Authority rather than the Village Board, Village Manager James Snowden or Massey.

“The proper course is to appoint people to the board, which you’ve done, who you believe will take that seriously, and do what they can to rectify whatever the problems are,” Sussman told Massey and the board.

Ultimately, Sussman explained that the village’s role is to appoint Housing Authority commissioners and help ensure the agency remains viable, but not to direct its daily operations.