Islip board split by surprise appointments to agency overseeing affordable housing funds

The Islip town board voted 3 to 2 to approve three immediate staff replacements to the Community Development Agency, which administers affordable housing funds, runs a lottery for first-time home buyers and works to fix community blight. The appointments hadn’t been on the agenda at the April 24 meeting and some felt they didn’t get proper time to vet the candidates. Despite that, the majority voted to replace three members who were not told about the vote ahead of time, Newsday reported. The agency is set to spend about $5.6 million this year, including about $2.7 on federal housing, developing the College Woods area and financing new homes in Brentwood. [Newsday]