Box 3, Folder 12, Document 29

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Box 3, Folder 12, Document 29

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ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ATLANTA

INCORPORATED
/Ol MARIETTA STREET BLDG. , ATLANTA, GEORG/A 3202303 TELEPHONE S25-4262
May 17, 1968



The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor of Atlanta

City Hall

Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Mr. Mayor:

The attached memorandum suggests a procedure for compliance with
new requirements for selection of directors for Economic Opportunity Atlanta,
Inc. , the community action agency authorized by the City of Atlanta and Fulton
County in 1964, later joined by Gwinnett and Rockdale Counties, and which you
have indicated should be continued.

The EOA Board now has nineteen appointed members, seven each by
Atlanta and Fulton County, one by the two governments jointly, and two each
by Gwinnett and Rockdale Counties. It also has fourteen members elected by
the poor, one each from the twelve Neighborhood Service Areas in Atlanta and
Fulton County, one in Gwinnett County, and one in Rockdale County.

The elected representatives of the poor comprise at least one-third of
the Board, as required. The Neighborhood organization has worked well, so
it seems wise to retain these fourteen area units, with one representative each,
as the basic numerical control,

The law requires that one-third of the Board be representatives of public
officials and agencies as selected by them. This number would be fourteen as
related to representatives of the poor. The memorandum suggests representation
that would provide broad coverage of the public interest, including city interests
such as housing, recreation and youth; county interests such as health and welfare;
and other general interests such as education, employment, planning and relations,

The law also requires that other Board members, up to one-third, be
representatives of major private community groups or interests concerned with
problems of poverty as selected by the groups. Public officials in the respective
jurisdictions may designate which groups will be invited to select representatives.
The memorandum suggests eleven private groups most representative of such
community interests,

The law requires also that the Board be so constituted as to permit the
addition of private community groups who feel inadequately represented and
successfully petition EOA for membership. Although no such petition is
anticipated, it would be possible to add three places to the eleven in the
category of community groups without disturbing the required distribution

ratio. .

The memorandum, prepared after extensive consultation, is our best
judgment as to how the EOA Board can meet current membership requirements
and best retain the general character and individual representation established
by the respective city and county governments,

I shall appreciate your agreement or suggested changes in the memo-
randum in order that we may present the necessary information for Office of
Economic Opportunity approval. Following such approval, I shall wish to
consult with you further.

Sincerely yours,




Zo pf iy
: S95 CRA UN
Boisfeuvillet Jones

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