A public housing task force studying options for renovating the aging residential complex on Park Avenue has about 20 members. Only one is a resident of the complex.

The rest are Realtors, contractors and others who some believe have a conflict of interest in the outcome and might be too quick to support an expensive plan to redevelop the neighborhood.

"There aren’t any car salesmen on there, but that’s what it reminds me of," said Debbie Calvin, the only Park Avenue resident on the Columbia Housing Authority’s Affordable Housing Task Force. "That kind of mentality, that makes me nervous."

For more than a year, the task force has been looking at concepts that would raze or renovate the 70 units on Park Avenue. Early cost estimates ranged from $4.5 million to $21.3 million. Recently, advocates for a less costly renovation that wouldn’t displace any residents has pushed for a conflict-of-interest policy.

Last night, the Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners decided no such policy is needed for the task force, which eventually will recommend an option for the Park Avenue project to the housing authority board.

Phil Steinhaus, the housing authority CEO, presented commissioners with a 19-page packet detailing the authority’s current conflict-of-interest policy. The task force would be held to the same standards, Steinhaus said. "This has been codified into law," he said. "It’s law."

The packet did mention putting together a separate conflict-of-interest statement for task force members to sign, but the idea floundered. "I guess what I’m saying is" the existing policy "goes a whole lot higher than any policy you would adopt," Steinhaus told the board.

As the idea of a separate statement lost steam, a small crowd of Park Avenue residents and members of the public began to whisper, and Marvin Kinney, the board chairman, interjected.

"I think the purpose of the task force has been lost," he said. "They’re not going to be voting on any contracts or contractors."

The failure of the statement drove Jerry Green, a 45-year-old Park Avenue resident, from the room. Green said even in an advisory capacity, the task force will vote on a recommendation and a conflict could arise.

"You got one resident on the task force," Green said. "Everybody else has a conflict of interest."

Mary Hussmann, an organizer with Grass Roots Organizing, said even though the task force was bound by existing laws and policies, she wondered whether the task force knew. "I’m still very confused about this conflict-of-interest policy," Hussmann said. "It just lends itself to some distrust that could have been handled here tonight."

The idea of a separate policy a failure, the meeting moved on.

"Bottom line, we’re covered," Commissioner Fred Parry said.