Number
13752
Version
Original
Reference
Sponsor
The Chair
Title
Resolution approving an Employment Contract with Harold Ince, Jr. for the position of Secretary-Executive Director
Analysis
Body
WHEREAS, the mission of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (“HACM”) is to foster strong, resilient and inclusive communities by providing a continuum of high-quality housing options that support self-sufficiency, good quality of life, and the opportunity to thrive; and
WHEREAS, HACM’s Bylaws explain that its Secretary-Executive Director “shall have general supervision over the administration of the business and affairs of the Authority” and that the HACM Board of Commissioners (the “Board”) shall have sole authority and responsibility for the hiring, evaluation, compensation, discipline, and, if necessary, termination of the Secretary-Executive Director, who serves at the pleasure of the Board, subject to applicable law and any executed employment agreement; and
WHEREAS, HACM’s previous Secretary-Executive Director, Willie L. Hines, Jr., submitted his resignation effective January 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Board entrusted Kenneth Barbeau, as the next person in the Succession Plan, to serve as Acting Secretary-Executive Director and Acting President of Travaux while a search was undertaken, since January 1, 2025, per HACM Resolution R_13546 of December 19, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Board agreed that they wanted to ensure a process for the search of the next Secretary-Executive Director that would incorporate resident and public input throughout, as much as possible; and
WHEREAS, the Board established a committee, including a resident and a Commissioner, to review and select an executive recruitment firm to provide expertise in the search, resulting in The Organizational Leadership Edge (“TOLE”) being selected; and
WHEREAS, the Board next created an Executive Search Committee, including a resident, community partners and Commissioners, to work with TOLE to guide the process, to assist with the development of vision and materials, to vet and perform an initial set of interviews, and ultimately present suggested candidates for the Board to review; and
WHEREAS, after selecting their slate of candidates, the Board developed a process targeting opportunities for public input while providing the Board and the candidates with events to learn more about each other, including a tour of many HACM developments, a radio interview on a local morning talk show, multiple forums where employees, community partners, residents and the public were able to provide questions beforehand and share their feedback with the Board afterward, and a practical exercise was presented to the candidates, to craft a presentation which was presented as part of their interviews with the Board, which were also viewable to the public; and
WHEREAS, after contemplating all of the materials, interviews, practical exercise presentations, questions, forum appearances, and feedback, the Board authorized the Board Chair to begin negotiations with Harold Ince Jr. to be HACM’s next Secretary Executive Director per HACM Resolution R_13741, which was approved on March 13, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Board Chair, working with staff and legal counsel, has negotiated employment terms with Mr. Ince and seeks the Board’s authorization to enter into the attached employment agreement with him; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Board hereby authorize and approve entering into the attached employment agreement with Harold Ince Jr. to establish the terms of his employment as HACM’s Secretary-Executive Director; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby approve the appointment of Harold Ince Jr. to the position of Secretary-Executive Director as defined by Article II Section 4 of HACM’s Bylaws and empower him to perform any and all acts and duties and to execute and sign any Documents, delegate his authority as appropriate and proceed with the implementation of any such documents in HACM’s name that the Secretary-Executive Director is presently authorized and required to perform; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby authorize and direct the Board Chair to execute the attached employment agreement on behalf of the Board.
Requestor
Drafter
Housing Authority, Atty. Greg Kruse, CAO