Hopkinton Housing Authority Posts Election Update

From the City of Hopkinton: On February 17, 2017, the Town Clerk issued a notice related to a statutory change amending the composition of most Local Housing Authorities throughout the Commonwealth, to include one member appointed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), three members elected by the voters and one tenant member elected or appointed in accordance with DHCD regulations.

This notice was issued in accordance with recent guidance issued by DHCD and the State Elections Division, which takes the position that town-wide elections cannot be used to elect the fifth member of a local housing authority, even though no DHCD regulations have been issued, because the statute reserves that seat for a tenant member. This guidance, however, does not take into consideration that the composition of the Hopkinton Housing Authority (HHA) is governed by the Town’s Home Rule Charter, and not state law.

The Town Charter provides for four (4) members to be elected by the Town’s voters. Because the Charter supersedes the state statute, the composition of the HHA is unaffected by the statutory change. Therefore, the HHA Commissioner seat expiring in May 2017 will be up for election by the voters of the Town of Hopkinton at the upcoming Annual Town Election. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions.

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