Letter to the Editor: HHA Commissioners Meeting
At the January 9th HHA meeting Commissioner Mello attempted to remove the first black Chairman of the Hoboken Housing Authority inciting a riot with the residents of the Housing Authority. Commissioner Mello attended the meeting with a pocket resolution to change the bylaws of the commissioners which stated in the event that during the term office of the board chair and vice chair of the board of commissioners of the HHA hereafter the board there occurs a change in the composition of the membership of the board for any reason than at a Board Meeting held within 60 days after the change and the composition of the board the board may by motion appropriately made and second and by a vote of the majority of the full membership of the board remove and replace the Board Chair and/or vice-chair in the event such a change in leadership is made the new officers shall assume office immediately after the vote and shall serve in their position until the expiration of the original (1 year term or are themselves replaced pursuit to this rule or resign from set officers position). Any newly elected officers whose positioned was gained by set vote shall be immediately empowered to make any changes to the composition of any sub-committees established by the board that they deem appropriate. Commissioner Mello not only attempted to bully Chairman Davis but also Bogart and railroad last nights’ meeting. He attempted to obstruct Chairman Davis’ ability to run the meeting as is his duty.
As a resident attending and observing what is going on with the Political Bullying that the city of Hoboken is facing I must ask did Commissioner Mello discuss the resolution at an earlier time with the majority commissioners because the certainty and assurance he used that the resolution would pass by the majority, only leaves one to believe that the resolution may have been discussed earlier weather by telephone conference, in person, or electronically. If such a thing did occur then this would constitute a violation of the Sunshine Law and should be addressed immediately.
This is a mirror situation of what occurred at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday evening when the minority council members were not provided with a list of potential candidates to serve on a variety of city boards until two minutes prior to voting. When questioned no one could answer how or when the names were selected and were told they could either vote yes or no as they had a full board to conduct the vote. As researched by a resident of the HHA not one member appointed to the city boards is a minority which serves contrary to the Mayor’s inaugural speech of all elected officials to work together for ONE Hoboken and being transparent with the processes used in the City’s government.
Thank you
Hoboken Housing Authority
Resident Advisory Board/Tenant Association
