June 17, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
The Board of Commissioners of the Beaufort Housing Authority convened a regular meeting on Wednesday. June 17, 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:
- Chairman Ethan James
- Vice Chair Marilyn Harris
- Commissioner Linda Robinson
- Commissioner Janie Glover
- Commissioner Natassia Allen
Commissioners Not Present:
- Commissioner William Achurch
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.;
- Joseph Dickey, Legal Counsel, Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. (via Zoom);
- Sheila Jones, Selenium Consulting (via Zoom)
- Brendan Geraghty, Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd, P A. (via Zoom)
- Benjamin Quattlebaum (Via Zoom)
- Kevin Connelly, Connelly Development
- Field Goodlett, Connelly Development
- Nioka Tompo, 10 Quail Ridge Drive
Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman James called the meeting to order, took roll, and a quorum was recognized.
Freedom of Information Act Statement
The Interim Executive Director confirmed that the meeting was publicly noticed, posted, and distributed in compliance with the South Carolina Freedom Of Information Act.
Adoption of Agenda
Commissioner Allen made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
The Board considered the minutes from the May 27, 2026, meeting. It was noted that references to a "special meeting" should be corrected to reflect that it was a regular meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Allen and seconded by Commissioner Robinson to approve the May 27, 2026, minutes, subject to correction of those references. The motion carried unanimously.
Public Comment
A resident, Ms. Nioka Tompo, addressed the Board regarding repairs at her unit and expressed appreciation for repair work that had been completed. She also raised concerns regarding communication issues surrounding temporary hotel accommodation during the repair periods the handling of prior documents and requests, and alleged retaliation and lack of accountability in prior interactions with staff Ms. Tompo submitted documentation for the Board's review and requested further attention to her concerns.
No additional public comment was offered.
Developer Presentation
Developer Kevin Connolly provided an update on redevelopment planning for Marsh Pointe and Sandalwood Terrace. He reported that substantial progress had been made on application materials, with the final application to SC Housing anticipated during the July 13-17 submission window. He presented preliminary site plans and building concepts for both sites.
Discussion Included:
- proposed building layouts and unit mixes for Marsh Pointe and Sandalwood Terrace;
- site design considerations required by local municipal codes;
- tree preservation efforts, particularly at Marsh Point and Sandalwood Terrace;
- parking requirements, building orientation, and code-driven layout changes;
- clubhouse and amenity concepts, including laundry, office, community space, fitness/computer room, playgrounds, bike racks, and possible gathering areas.
No action was taken on the presentation.
Interim Executive Director's Report
The Interim Executive Director presented her report and highlighted the following items:
- Finance and Banking Operations: Implementation of Positive Pay with Truist as a fraud prevention measure; staff are also exploring expanded electronic payment options and increased credit card limits for operational efficiency.
- Fee Accountant Services: Staff recommended entering into a one-year contract with PGS Enterprises for fee accountant services, with renewal options, in order to evaluate performance before any longer-term commitment.
- Draft Audit: The FY 2025 draft audit reflected a clean audit result, including an unmodified opinion, no material weaknesses, and no reportable noncompliance. Board approval would be needed before submission to HUD by June 30. Enterprise Software / LINC: Staff recommended moving to cloud-based LINC services due to inefficiencies caused by remote access needs at satellite offices. A one-year term was recommended while staff further evaluate broader enterprise software options.
- 29 Gay Drive: The Chair and Interim Executive Director met with county representatives regarding a proposed traffic circle and related right-of-way issues affecting the property. Concerns were raised regarding the driveway relocation and potential
impact on the property's use and value. - IO Quail Ridge Drive: Staff provided an update on completed repairs, temporary accommodations, and current maintenance status. The Interim Executive Director also addressed issues raised in public comment relating to hotel accommodations
and communication with the resident. - PHAS / Substandard Management Designation: Staff are reviewing prior documentation and preparing an appeal and response regarding PHAS scoring concerns, including what appear to be errors in scoring calculations.
Old Business
- Resolution Authorizing Submission of Applications and Documents for Repositioning and Conversion
The Board considered a resolution authorizing the submission of all applications and documents necessary for the repositioning and conversion of certain Authority projects. A motion was made by Vice Chair Harris and seconded by Commissioner Glover to approve the resolution and authorize the Board Chair to sign. The motion carried unanimously. - Approval of Deferred Developer Fee for Sandalwood Terrace and Marsh Pointe
The Board considered memoranda regarding the deferred developer fee for Sandalwood Terrace and Marsh Point, consistent with previously approved business terns. A motion was made by Vice Chair Harris and seconded by Commissioner Robinson to approve the deferred developer fee arrangements. The motion carried unanimously.
New Business
- Approval ofFisca1 Year 2025 Draft Audit
The Board discussed the draft audit and the upcoming HUD submission deadline. After discussion, the Board determined additional time was needed for review. The item was tabled, and a virtual special meeting was to be scheduled prior to June
30, 2026, for further consideration and approval. - Approval of PGS Enterprises, Inc. for Fee Accountant Services
The Board considered approval of PGS Enterprises, Inc. for fee accountant services for a one-year term. A motion was made by Commissioner Glover and seconded by Commissioner Allen to approve PGS Enterprises for fee accountant services for a one-year period, subject to contractual review. The motion carried unanimously.
Executive Session
A motion was made by Vice Chair Harris and seconded by Commissioner Glover to enter Executive Session to discuss:
- matters incident to contractual arrangements regarding repositioning (S.C. Code 30-4-7-(a)(2));
- employment matters related to the Executive Director search(S.C. Code
- receipt of legal advice regarding updates to BHA bylaws (S.C. Code 30-4-7-(a)(2)); and
- updates and legal advice regarding a pending legal claim (S.C Code 30-4-7-(a)(2)).
The motion carried unanimously, and the Board entered Executive Session at 7:19 PM.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Harris and seconded by Commissioner Allen to exit Executive Session. The Board returned to Open Session at 8:09 PM.
Possible Votes as a Result of Executive Session
A motion was made by Commissioner Allen and seconded by Commissioner Robinson to approve the amended bylaws as presented by counsel and discussed in Executive Session, The motion carried unanimously.
The Board Chair also announced the appointment of a Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of:
- Chairman Ethan James
- Commissioner Will A. Church
- LHRC Director Blake Stancil
Questions and Comments: Next Regular Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for July 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM, at the Beaufort Housing Authority Conference Room.
Adjournment
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 PM.