WESTFIELD – Gov. Deval L. Patrick has submitted legislation that will put all public housing under state control, if approved by the state Legislation, and eliminate local control of public housing, establishing six regional authorities to administer the 80,000 public housing units in the state. Local boards would be cut and hundreds of commissioners hired through political appointments would be eliminated.
Westfield Housing Director Daniel J. Kelly, and the Housing Authority members, initiated a review of the proposed legislation last week and anticipate adopting a local position in response to the sweeping changes proposed by Patrick.
The local Housing Authority controls 815 units in the city, making it one of the largest in the western half of the state.
State Sen. Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield) said this morning that there have been abuses in some housing agencies and that some reform is needed to increase efficiencies, but said that he is “immediately skeptical” of Patrick’s regionalization proposal.
“I know enough about this bill to know that it’s a classic power grab by Boston,” Knapik said. “There are bad housing authorities which ought to be the target of reorganization, but that doesn’t mean that we have to change all of the systems.”
“I, as a legislator, have been satisfied with the administration and operation of housing (authorities) in my district,” Knapik said. “I think that most legislators will support local control of the decision making process.”
“I have a close relationship with all of my housing authorities,” Knapik said. “They are well managed. When I call with a constituent concern, I know that the local staff will provide me with the information I need to serve constituents.”
Kelly said that the state chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) has filed a bill that is an alternative to Patrick’s legislation. The NAHRO legislation does address greater efficiency and accountability that focuses on collaboration among housing authorities, including shared logistics and a centralized waiting list under which a residents fills out a standard form used by all authorities to assign housing.
The NAHRO proposal also encouraged consortia under which two or more housing authorities administer their programs together as a single entity for reporting, funding and oversight to reduce administrative burdens, but while keeping separate local boards.
Knapik said that he anticipates that the Legislature will conduct hearings this spring to examine both Patrick’s and the NAHRO proposals to reform the state’s housing programs.
“It’s clear we have to become more efficient and that reform will play a role in that,” Knapik said.
