2023 Tennessee Code › Title 13 - PUBLIC PLANNING AND HOUSING (§§ 13-1-101 — 13-30-120) › Chapter 20 - HOUSING AUTHORITIES LAW (§§ 13-20-101 — 13-20-709) › Part 4 - CITY HOUSING AUTHORITIES (§§ 13-20-401 — 13-20-419) › Section 13-20-408 - Commissioners - Appointment - Residency requirement - Terms - Quorum - Compensation - Legal services - Personnel

(a)
(1)
An authority shall consist of five (5) commissioners appointed by the mayor, and the mayor shall designate the first chair. The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated by the mayor to serve for terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) or five (5) years, respectively, from the date of their appointment. Pursuant to §
13-20-117(b)
, the term of office of the commissioner who is a resident of low-rent public housing or a housing project of a housing authority in any county having a population of not less than three hundred nineteen thousand six hundred twenty-five (319,625) nor more than three hundred nineteen thousand seven hundred twenty-five (319,725), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall be two (2) years. Thereafter, the term of office for all commissioners shall be five (5) years. A majority of the commissioners on the board shall constitute a quorum.
(2)
In any county having a population of not less than eighty-seven thousand nine hundred (87,900) nor more than eighty-eight thousand (88,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, an authority shall consist of not less than five (5) nor more than seven (7) commissioners appointed by the mayor. In such event that more than five (5) commissioners are appointed by the mayor, appointments shall be made by the mayor in such manner that the terms of no more than two (2) commissioners shall expire in any year. The term of office for all commissioners shall be five (5) years. A majority of the commissioners on the board shall constitute a quorum.
(b)
In cities of more than one hundred thousand (100,000) population, according to the federal census of 1980 or any subsequent federal census, where it is determined by the mayor that a larger number of commissioners is necessary to assure adequate representation of the larger populace, the authority may be increased by the mayor to seven (7) commissioners. In such event, appointments shall be made by the mayor in such manner that the terms of no more than two (2) commissioners shall expire in any year and it shall take four (4) commissioners to constitute a quorum.
(c)
(1)
(A)
In any county having a population of not less than sixty-two thousand three hundred (62,300) nor more than sixty-two thousand four hundred (62,400), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the authority shall be increased to seven (7) commissioners. In such county, appointments shall be made in such a manner that the terms of no more than two (2) commissioners shall expire in any year, and it shall take four (4) commissioners to constitute a quorum.
(B)
Except as provided in §
13-20-117(a)
for housing authorities in any city or county with a metropolitan form of government, at least one (1) commissioner shall be a resident of public housing. For the purposes of this subsection (c), "resident of public housing" means a resident in good standing, at the time of such resident's appointment as a commissioner of public housing or Section 8 housing administered by the local housing authority.
(C)
Unless otherwise provided by law, the term of office of such resident shall be for the term provided in subsection (a) or until the person is no longer a resident of public housing, whichever first occurs.
(D)
Unless a housing authority has already appointed a resident of low-rent public housing or a housing project as a commissioner, or an appointment procedure is otherwise provided by law, the resident of public housing to be appointed as a commissioner under subdivision (c)(1)(A) shall be appointed to a vacancy which is unfilled on May 24, 2000, or if no vacancies are unfilled on May 24, 2000, to the first vacancy occurring after May 24, 2000. If the vacancy is to fill an unexpired term, such resident shall be appointed to complete the unexpired term of office created by the vacancy. If the first vacancy occurring is at the expiration of the term of office of a commissioner, then, subject to subdivision (c)(1)(B), such resident shall be appointed for the full term of office. Such commissioner position shall thereafter be filled only by a resident of public housing either to fill an unexpired term or at the end of an expired term.
(E)
The conclusion of a term shall not constitute a vacancy if the incumbent member is reappointed.
(2)
This subsection (c) shall be permissive for housing authorities with three hundred (300) or fewer housing units.
(d)
A commissioner shall hold office until the commissioner's successor has been appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. The mayor shall file with the city clerk a certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner. A commissioner shall receive no compensation for such commissioner's services but shall be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of the commissioner's duties, unless otherwise authorized by local ordinance. No commissioner may be a city official. In no case shall compensation be paid to any commissioner from state or federal funds.
(e)
When the office of the first chair of the authority becomes vacant, the authority shall elect a chair from among its members. An authority shall select from among its members a vice chair, and it may employ a secretary, who shall be executive director, technical experts and such other officers, agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. An authority may call upon the corporation counsel or chief law officer of the city for such legal services as it may require or it may employ its own counsel and legal staff. An authority may delegate to one (1) or more of its agents or employees such powers or duties as it may deem proper. An employee of a housing authority in counties having a population of not less than three hundred twenty thousand (320,000) nor more than four hundred eighty thousand (480,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall not be deemed, as a result of employment by such housing authority, to be an employee of any city or municipality.
(f)
Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, membership of an authority shall be increased in accordance with §
13-20-415(c)
.
Acts 1935 (Ex. Sess.), ch. 20, § 5; C. Supp. 1950, § 3647.4 (Williams, § 3647.5); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 13-908; Acts 1984, ch. 941, § 1; 1988, ch. 568, § 2; 1989, ch. 82, § 1; 1992, ch. 654, §§ 1, 2; 1995, ch. 224, §§ 1, 2; 2000, ch. 822, § 1; 2002, ch. 542, § 1; 2003, ch. 23, § 1.