2023 Delaware Code › Title 31 - Welfare › Chapter 43. HOUSING AUTHORITY › § 4303. Creation of authority; appointment and removal of commissioners; area of operation.

§ 4303. Creation of authority; appointment and removal of commissioners; area of operation.
Whenever DSHA shall have determined that there is need for a housing authority in any county or in any part of a county of the State, it shall issue to each appointing officer named in this chapter a certificate of such determination, describing the area of operation of the proposed authority, and as soon as possible thereafter an authority shall be created by the appointment of commissioners who shall constitute the authority, all of whom shall be residents of the area in which the authority operates. In the case of a New Castle County housing authority, there shall be 7 commissioners who shall be appointed by the County Executive with the advice and consent of the County Council, no more than a bare majority of the commissioners shall be affiliated with any 1 major political party, 1 member shall serve as chairperson and shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive, 6 members shall serve for terms of 3 years each; provided, that the terms of the original members shall be established in a manner that 2 shall expire each year, and that 1 member from each council district shall be represented on the commission. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, in the case of authorities other than a New Castle County housing authority, there shall be 6 commissioners who shall be appointed as follows:
3 by the Governor for initial terms of 6 years, 4 years and 3 years respectively, 3 by the mayor of the most populous incorporated city or town in the area of operation in accordance with the last federal census for initial terms of 5 years, 2 years and 1 year respectively. Not more than 2 appointees of the Governor or of the mayor at any 1 time shall be from the same political party or subdivision thereof. The terms of the commissioners appointed before July 1, 1959, shall continue until the expiration of the terms thereof, the first occurring appointment to succeed the appointee of the resident judge shall be made by the mayor, the second occurring appointment to succeed the appointee of the resident judge shall be made by the Governor.
Forthwith upon the appointment of the original commissioners, the appointing officers shall execute and file or cause to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate or certificates stating that such appointments have been duly made and setting forth the name and term of office of each commissioner. Such certificate or certificates shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper creation of the authority. Each appointing officer shall execute and file or cause to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State a certificate with respect to each appointment of a successor commissioner stating the fact of such appointment and setting forth the name of the successor commissioner and the successor commissioner's term of office. The respective appointing officers shall appoint successors to commissioners appointed by them or by their respective predecessors in office. In the case of an authority other than a New Castle County housing authority, each successor commissioner shall be appointed to hold office in the case of a vacancy for the unexpired term, or, in the case of expiration, for a term of 6 years or until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. In the case of a New Castle County housing authority, each successor commissioner shall be appointed to hold office in the case of a vacancy for the unexpired term, or, in the case of expiration of a term, for a term of 3 years from the date of expiration of such term or until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified.
In the case of an authority other than a New Castle County housing authority, the Governor and the mayor by unanimous vote may remove a commissioner of the authority for official misconduct, neglect of duty or incompetence, but only after the commissioner shall have been given a copy of the charges against the commissioner and an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel in the commissioner's own defense; pending the determination of the charges against the commissioner, the Governor and the mayor by unanimous vote may suspend the commissioner from office. A copy of the charges and the result of the hearing shall be forwarded to DSHA.
In the case of a New Castle County housing authority, the County Executive, with the advice and consent of County Council, may remove a commissioner of the authority for official misconduct, neglect of duty or incompetence, but only after the commissioner shall have been given a copy of the charges against the commissioner and an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel in the commissioner's own defense; pending the determination of the charges against the commissioner, the County Executive with the advice and consent of County Council by unanimous vote may suspend the commissioner from office. A copy of the charges and the result of the hearing shall be forwarded to the Department.
39 Del. Laws, c. 16, §  4;  Code 1935, §  5456;  48 Del. Laws, c. 339, §  1;  31 Del. C. 1953, §  4303;  52 Del. Laws, c. 126, §§  2-4;  56 Del. Laws, c. 293, §  2;  57 Del. Laws, c. 679, §  5B;  58 Del. Laws, c. 161, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  77 Del. Laws, c. 340, §  1;