North Adams Housing Authority Hires MassNAHRO to Lead Executive Director Search
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA) board of commissioners voted to utilize MassNAHRO's Executive Director Search Services for its own director search.
Before the unanimous vote Thursday to retain MassNAHRO (Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) services, Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah noted that NAHA is already an affiliate of the organization.
"They have been doing executive director recruitment searches for public housing authorities that they represent," she said. "They follow all of the Massachusetts laws, they advertise, they screen, they involve the tenants in their process. I think it is in our best interest to secure their services."
Longtime director Jennifer Hohn resigned earlier in October, following rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.
The commissioners promoted Director of Operations Lisa Labonte to interim director.
The service will cost $5,500, and MassNAHRO will work directly with the commission to set up a screening committee.
Lillian Zavatsky, city councilor and liaison to NAHA, spoke during the open forum and encouraged the board to avoid a permanent internal promotion. This was in reference to a letter she sent to the commissioners several weeks ago.
"I think that it is really important that the search is open and transparent, and there is a direct role for tenant participation," she said. "Not just after a decision is made, but throughout the process ... I also said I do not support an internal candidate. I do not support the director of operations being promoted to the director. There are older issues here, and she has been part of it. I think a lot needs to change here."
The commissioners also officially accepted the resignation letter of tenant-appointed commissioner Richard Lavigne. They voted Commissioner Meredith Starr in as vice chair, replacing Lavigne.
Tenants Association member Lisa Smith said the group has announced that it is looking for a replacement and plans to hold an election.
"We have fliers in every building on every floor," she said. "So that is in process."
The commission also accepted responses to Open Meeting Law complaints originally discussed at the Sept. 30 meeting.
North Adams resident Jennifer Barbeau, who filed the complaints, brought up new concerns during the open forum. She felt that attorney Elisabeth Goodman representing NAHA was a conflict of interest.
Barbeau called back to 2020 when lawyer Jennifer Breen sat on the NAHA board of commissioners while also serving on the Halo Homes Board of Directors. Breen resigned from the commission after taking employment with Donovan O'Connor & Dodig, the firm that represents NAHA, where she later became partner.
Barbeau felt this excluded the entire firm from representing NAHA, as they could benefit from contracts Breen executed while on the board.
"You are not in compliance. You have significant issues just with your legal department," she said.
Goodman disagreed and said she did not see a conflict stopping her law firm from representing NAHA.
"Then no law firm could ever represent any public entity," she said. "I don't believe we have a conflict representing you."
Barbeau also raised issues with the accepted minutes, questioning their accuracy and legality, and stated she planned to continue filing Open Meeting Law complaints.
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