(a) There shall continue to be a regional housing council within each planning region of the state, as designated under the provisions of section 16a-4a, which shall consist of not less than seven members of the public representing a fair cross-section of the region. The chairperson of each regional housing council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve for a term coterminous with that of the Governor. Upon the resignation of any chairperson, the Governor shall appoint a successor to serve as chairperson. The chairperson shall organize each regional housing council and appoint the members thereof, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chairperson. If any vacancy occurs in the council, the chairperson shall appoint a successor to fill such vacancy. If the Commissioner of Housing finds that a regional housing council has not been organized within a planning region, he may designate the regional council of governments or other entity to serve as the regional housing council for such region.

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(b) Each regional housing council shall: (1) Strive for environmentally and economically sound and socially balanced development of affordable, equal opportunity housing in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and regional development plans; (2) assist state and local decision makers, housing sponsors and other participants in the development of housing in defining suitable approaches to providing for regional housing needs and identifying regional housing resources; (3) develop channels of communication between all levels of government and the producers and consumers of housing in order to assist in expediting existing processes for housing production, in cooperation with regional councils of governments; (4) formulate and recommend measures designed to improve housing policies and propose appropriate legislative changes; (5) review and evaluate state housing programs and grants; (6) provide a forum for members of the public concerned with housing issues; (7) receive, review and comment on the housing needs assessment transmitted to the council by the regional council of governments within its planning region as required by section 8-35a, provided the council shall transmit such comments to the Commissioner of Housing not later than thirty days after receiving the housing needs assessment; and (8) monitor housing-related activities of the regional council of governments within its region.