Pursuant to the provisions of §§ 8-40
and 8-41 of the General Statutes, it is hereby found that there is
a shortage of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in the Town
of Canton available to elderly families of low and moderate income
at rentals they can afford.
It is hereby declared that a need exists for
a housing authority in the Town of Canton.
A housing authority to be known as the "Housing
Authority of the Town of Canton" (hereinafter referred to as "Authority")
be and hereby is established pursuant to §§ 8-40 and
8-41 of the General Statutes.
The Authority shall be vested with all the powers
provided in Chapter 128 of the General Statutes.
The Authority shall be authorized to transact
business and to exercise its powers on the date this chapter becomes
effective.
[Amended 12-14-2011]
The Authority shall consist of five persons
appointed by the Board of Selectmen, which persons shall be hereinafter
referred to as "Commissioners." Commissioners shall be residents of
the Town of Canton. At least one of the Commissioners shall be a tenant
who lives in housing owned or managed by such Authority in accordance
with § 8-41 of the General Statutes. The term of each Commissioner
shall be five years, except that with respect to the initial appointment,
four of the five Commissioners shall be appointed for the term of
one, two, three, and four years, respectively, so that the term of
one Commissioner shall expire at the end of each year. A vacancy occurring
because of a change of residence by a Commissioner, removal of a Commissioner,
resignation, or death shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen for
the unexpired portion of the term. No Commissioner may hold any public
office in the Town of Canton. A certificate of the appointment or
reappointment of any Commissioner shall be filed with the Town Clerk
and shall be conclusive evidence of the legal appointment of such
Commissioner, after he has taken the oath of office as prescribed
in § 1-25 of the General Statutes. Three Commissioners shall
constitute a quorum. Action may be taken by the Authority upon a vote
of not less than a majority of the Commissioners present, unless the
bylaws of the Authority require a larger number.
[Amended 12-14-2011]
The Board of Selectmen shall designate
which of the Commissioners shall be the first Chairman, but when the
office of Chairman of the Authority becomes vacant, the Authority
shall select a Chairman from among its Commissioners. The Authority
shall select from among its Commissioners a Vice Chairman and Secretary
who shall be executive directors; provided, however, that the Authority
may abolish the office of Secretary at such time as other arrangements
are made for another executive director and at such time there shall
be created the position of recording secretary to be selected by the
Authority. The authority may hire such personnel as it deems proper
and purchase such equipment as it shall reasonably require, and all
such personnel shall receive wages and benefits as established by
the Authority within the budget approved by the Board of Finance and
Town Meeting.
No Commissioner or employee of the Authority
shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any housing project
or in any property included or planned to be included in any project,
nor shall he have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract
or proposed contract for materials or services to be furnished or
used in connection with any housing project. If any Commissioner or
employee of the Authority owns or controls an interest, direct or
indirect, in any property included or planned to be included in any
housing project, he shall immediately disclose the same in writing
to the Authority, and such a disclosure shall be entered upon the
minutes of the Authority. Failure so to disclose such interest shall
constitute misconduct in office.
The facilities and services of the various agencies
and departments of the Town of Canton shall be available to the Authority
as it may reasonably require.