January 21, 2026 Meeting Minutes

BOARD OF COMMISSIONER'S REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Commissioners of the Beaufort Housing Authority convened a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 5:10 p.m., in person at the Beaufort Housing Authority Conference Room. The meeting was called to order by Chair Ethan M. James, and upon roll call those present and absent were as follows:

Commissioners Present:
Ethan M. James, Chair
Marilyn J. Harris, Vice Chair (via Zoom)
Linda J. Robinson, Commissioner
Dr. Natassia Allen, Commissioner
Janie Glover, Resident Commissioner
William "Will" Achurch, Commissioner (arrived approximately at 5:52pm)

Commissioners Not Present:
None.

Staff and Guests attending the meeting included the following:

STAFF: Aris Hanchard Ferguson, Interim Executive Director
GUESTS: Ronald T. Scott, Legal Counsel, Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.; Ben Quattlebaum, Consultant (via Zoom)

Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman James called the meeting to order, took roll, and a quorum was recognized. Chairman James noted that Commissioner Achurch arrived later and was noted for the record.

Affirmation of Oath
The Board proceeded with the affirmation of oath for all Commissioners. Willie Mae Simmons, Notary Public for South Carolina, administered the oath individually to Chairman Ethan James, Vice Chair Marilyn Harris, Commissioner Janie Glover, Commissioner Linda Robinson, and Commissioner Dr. Natasia Allen. Administrative discussion followed regarding completion of the oath paperwork, including term dates and execution of the appointment/acknowledgment portions of the form.

Freedom of lnformation Act Statement
Chairman James asked for confirmation that public notification of the meeting was published, posted, and distributed in compliance with the South Carolina Freedom oflnformation Act. Mrs. Aris Hanchard Ferguson, Interim Executive Director, confirmed compliance.

Adoption of Agenda
Vice Chair Harris moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Commissioner Glover seconded the motion. Following
discussion, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda.

Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Robinson moved to approve the minutes of the Tuesday, December 9, 2025, meeting. Commissioner Glover
seconded the motion. Commissioner Dr. Allen abstained from the vote, as she was not present at the December 9, 2025,
meeting. The minutes were unanimously approved by the remaining Commissioners present.

Public Comment
A member of the public, Ms. Nioka Tompo (name as stated for the record), addressed the Board regarding (1) her lease renewal and concerns related to minimum income requirements for her unit at 10 Quail Ridge Drive, and (2) unresolved maintenance issues and repairs previously raised at an August 2025 Board meeting, including concerns regarding cabinet deterioration and potential mold-related conditions. Ms. Tompo provided a written statement for the record describing her circumstances and her efforts to obtain assistance through veteran-related housing resources, including a discussion that she had with a HUD-VASH representative earlier that day. The Interim Executive Director explained that the property referenced is owned by LHRC and that LHRC eligibility rules differ from those applicable to public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. The Interim Executive Director further stated that additional clarification and review of the applicable LHRC policies was needed, including the basis for and communication of minimum income requirements, and confirmed that no action would be taken at that time requiring Ms. Tompo to vacate pending further review. The Interim Executive Director also advised that Ms. Tompo could pursue a HUD-VASH voucher independent of her current housing situation and invited her to request any assistance needed in connection with that process.

With respect to the maintenance concerns, the Interim Executive Director stated that the agency would coordinate a full inspection and follow-up with property management and maintenance staff, and would provide Ms. Tompo with an update after confirming status and next steps. Commissioner Robinson reiterated appreciation for Ms. Tompo's attendance, confirmed that no action would be taken at that time regarding her current living situation, and stated that if any action were later contemplated, she would be notified in advance.

Executive Director's Report
The Interim Executive Director provided an operational and programmatic update, including that the South Carolina Public Housing Capital Fund Program Grant had been successfully closed out with all documentation submitted and disbursements received. The Interim Executive Director highlighted the work of Financial Operations Administrator Tammy Doe, including identifying potential savings related to the agency's Truist account benefits and initiating development of formal accounting policies, with sample policies obtained through professional housing networks for reference.
Director Ferguson reported that HUD system access had been obtained for key staff, including the Interim Executive Director, HCV Administrator David Digby, and Ms. Doe, with ongoing troubleshooting for certain reporting functions in coordination with HUD. The Interim Executive Director also addressed post-inspection work at Sandalwood Terrace, noting that repairs were being addressed and that a reinspection could occur in corning months; the agency would evaluate the appropriate balance between near-term repairs and redevelopment planning.

The Interim Executive Director reported that the public housing waiting list opened January 5, 2026, and closed January 16, 2026, for one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, and that the LHRC waiting list opened during the same period. The Director further discussed LHRC minimum income limits and stated that the agency would continue reviewing the basis and communication of those limits, including as related to Ms. Tompo's comments.

The Interim Executive Director reported progress on updating the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan, including coordination with two law students to update the documents using current model materials and to identify needed policy specificity. The Interim Executive Director stated the goal of completing the updates by March 2026, with the possibility of completion earlier. The Interim Executive Director also described planned staff certifications and training through Nan McKay for relevant program areas to strengthen
compliance and operational consistency.

Finally, the Director noted receipt of HUD communications regarding increasing HCV program costs and the importance of budget stewardship. The Interim Executive Director reported that staff would be tightening procedures related to rent reasonableness and rent increase practices, including exploring more reliable market comparables tools to support consistent decision-making.
At the request of Vice Chair Harris, the Interim Executive Director agreed to circulate a written outline of the Director's Report and also indicated an intention to incorporate a more formal Executive Director report and financial reporting into future board packets, with earlier distribution to Commissioners where feasible. Chairman James and Vice Chair Harris commended progress on staffing, including hiring of the HCV Administrator and Financial Operations Administrator, and
thanked Mr. Quattlebaum for support in filling key positions.

Old Business
The Board considered the resolution authorizing submission of applications and documents necessary for the repositioning
and conversion of certain Authority projects. The Interim Executive Director reported that the finalized resolution had not yet been received from the consultant, and the item was tabled for one month and retained under Old Business.

New Business
There was no new business requiring approval.

Executive Session
Vice Chair Harris moved to enter Executive Session and Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to enter Executive Session. Executive Session began at 6:07 p.m.

1. Discussion of personnel matters related to staff and Executive Director search- S.C. Code 30-4-70(a)(l).
2. Discussion of negotiations incident to contractual arrangements regarding repositioning - S.C. Code 30- 4-70(a)(2).

Commissioner Achurch moved to exit Executive Session. Commissioner Allen seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to exit Executive Session. The Board returned to open session at 7:25 p.m.

Possible Votes as a Result of Executive Session
The Board then took the following actions:

Reclassification and Pay Adjustment: Commissioner Achurch moved to approve reclassification of the position from Receptionist/Clerk to Executive Assistant, with a corresponding pay increase of 14%. Vice Chair Harris seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Organizational Chart Adoption and Temporary Appointment: Vice Chair Harris moved to adopt the Interim Executive Director's recommendation to restructure the organizational chart to align with more traditional housing authority organizational structures, and to authorize the Interim Executive Director to place an employee in the
position of Capital Fund Administrator on a temporary basis pending review. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Questions and Comments; Next Regular Meeting
The next regular meeting was set for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., at the Beaufort Housing Authority Conference Room. The Board also noted that the February meeting would serve as the annual meeting, including a staff meeting and election of officers. The Interim Executive Director reported that Ms. Geraldine Hampton had announced her retirement, effective March 13, 2026, and expressed a desire to recognize her service at the annual meeting. The Interim
Executive Director also discussed inviting former Commissioner John Warley for recognition of his service at that time.

Commissioners expressed support for combining recognition items at the annual meeting.

Adjournment
Commissioner Achurch moved to adjourn. Commissioner Allen seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.