HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 01-22 Maplewood seeks members for HRA REVIEW Maplewood seeks
members for HRA
The Maplewood council last Thursday
night announced that it is looking for
citizens to serve on its new Housing and
Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
The HRA, established by the council in
October, capping a four year housing
study, conducted by the Maplewood
Human Relations Commission (MHRC).
Under law the council could decide to
appoint itself to the HRA. Law provides
that the mayor make appointments with
the council's concurrence.
However, it appears that the coun-
cilmen have no interest in dominating the
Authority,if even choosing one or two of
its members to serve.
"I would like to see a member of the
Planning Commission on it," councilman
Donald Wiegert said.
Mayor Bob Bruton admitted that he
hasn't given much thought to the HRA's
membership makeup.
Janet Kampf, chairman of the MHRC,
urged the council to appoint only one or
two councilmen, at most, to the HRA.
"This would allow for a greater citizen
input into the HRA," she stated. "Since
one of the strongest reasons for having an
HRA is local planning, it only makes
sense to include interested and informed
citizens on the board."
She also suggested that the positions for
HRA be publicized extensively to get a
diverse group "from whom to select the
actual members."
Kampf stated the MHRC is also in-
terested in having one of its members
serve on the HRA.
"Certainly such a member would be of
great help in the initial investigations, as
he would have had access to the four
years of previously studied materials and
a proven interest in the area,"she stated.
. . It is understood that if a conflict of
interest arose the member would resign
from the Human Relations Commission."