Features

The new Berkeley Housing Authority Board will meet in joint session with the City Council at 5 p.m. 

After public comment, the council will be asked to approve a transition plan written by the city manager.  

The new independent board then will be sworn in and asked to adopt the plan. They won’t have much leeway to turn it down, however, given that the city subsidy of $947,000 is conditioned on accepting the manager’s 120-day transition plan that includes: 

• Hiring Tia Ingram, who has managed the agency for nine months, as executive director; 

• Hiring independent legal counsel. 

• Contracting with consultants CGI, Inc. 

• Hiring temporary staff that has union protections, including an accountant, two housing specialists, one management analyst, one administrative assistant and two office assistants. Ingram and a deputy director will be permanent staff. 

• Developing an organizational plan within the 120 days. 

• Participating in a joint “two-by-two” committee with the City Council. 

• Conducting minimally 10 meetings per year. 

The city will continue to provide various services including: personnel, payroll, information technology, finance and public works janitorial services. The city clerk’s office will not service the BHA. 

The new board was appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, except former City Manager Wise Allen, who will likely be named tonight to replace an appointee who dropped out. In a brief interview last week, Allen said he was recruited by Mayor Tom Bates for the post. He was not among the original group of applicants. 

Bates appointed Carole Selter Norris, vice president of ICF Consulting, to chair the board. Norris’ resume says she has 20 years experience in affordable housing.  

Two tenant members of the current BHA board will continue their service: Dorothy Hunt, a disabled Section 8 renter who holds a doctorate in education and family counseling services, and Adolph Moody, who, on his resume, calls himself “a citizen of this city and this planet.” 

Marjorie Cox, an attorney with the California Department of Justice, will serve on the board. 

Melissa Male, a recent Boalt Law School graduate, is employed as constituent services specialist for Assemblymember Loni Hancock, Mayor Tom Bates’ wife. 

Michael McBride is senior pastor at The Way Christian Center and directs student services at Berkeley Technical Academy, the city’s alternative high school.