Ravon Anderson was introduced as the new deputy executive director of the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA) at the Feb. 19 meeting of the agency’s Board of Commissioners. Anderson’s role will be crucial as the Housing Authority board ramps up its search for a full-time replacement for interim Executive Director Robert DiVincent, who also serves as the executive director for the Weehawken and West New York housing authorities.
DiVincent hand-picked Anderson, exercising his power to hire employees under the shared services agreement that forms his contract with the HHA. On Thursday, Anderson said his salary would be $65,000 per year.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provides much of the HHA’s funding, has imposed a “zero threshold” regulation on the agency in light of its past awarding of no-bid contracts, requiring that most new spending be reviewed and approved by HUD.
According to DiVincent, Anderson’s hiring was not subject to the “zero threshold” because he was an employee rather than a contracted professional like an attorney.
Long history
Anderson grew up in the Hoboken Housing Authority and served in its administration between 2006 and 2012 under DiVincent and former Executive Director Carmelo Garcia.
DiVincent said he picked Anderson as deputy director because he wanted someone he could count on to be his eyes and ears on the days he couldn’t be at the Hoboken Housing Authority.
Anderson previously served in the HHA as a modernization coordinator, project manager, and head of the modernization, maintenance, and security departments. He has also worked as a Principal Planner for Hudson County and an inspector for New Jersey’s RREM Sandy relief program.
“I plan on being here for a long time.” – Ravon Anderson
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Before going professional in the field of affordable housing, Anderson was an all-state running back at Hoboken High School when the school won two state championships, and played football in college at the University of North Carolina, Nassau Community College, and Rutgers University.
Missing link
As the newly-minted deputy director, Anderson said he would continue his focus on improving maintenance and special projects like the capital fund. He will also serve as a key link during the future transition from DiVincent to a new full-time executive director.
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the HHA board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing DiVincent to issue a bid request “for search firms to hire the new executive director.”
At that meeting, HHA Board Chairwoman Dana Wefer discussed the deputy director position, stating her opinion that it should not be filled by someone who intends to use the perch merely to jump into the executive director role.
“It should be somebody who is happy being the deputy executive director, and that is the position they want in the Hoboken Housing Authority,” she said. “We want somebody who is going to be here, and having a deputy E.D. in there will help the new executive director transition better into the Housing Authority.”
Former Executive Director Carmelo Garcia, who was terminated by the HHA Board last August after a bitter joust for control of the agency, had been DiVincent’s deputy before moving up to the executive position in 2009. Garcia is also a state assemblyman.
For his part, Anderson seemed eager to return to the HHA and serve as the deputy director.
“I plan on being here for a long time,” he said after Thursday’s meeting.
Anderson said his background in the HHA would allow him to identify with each tenant and every complaint. “They know me, and I know them,” he added.
Carlo Davis may be reached at cdavis@hudsonreporter.com.