NORTHAMPTON — The city has decided to extend the deadline to apply for the job of Senior Services director, a position that includes overseeing the Northampton Senior Center and running the city’s Tax Work-Off Program.
Marie Westburg served as director from spring 2018 until her resignation on April 1. For nearly a month, a team of volunteers, Senior Center staff, former directors and City Hall employees has taken on Westburg’s former responsibilities as a mayoral search committee receives applications.
On Thursday, the Council on Aging met in person at the Senior Center, 67 Conz St., for the first time in more than two years; the council met virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Marie was on a leave of absence from the beginning of March, so it’s been well over a month without a director,” council chair Cynthia Langley said, thanking those who have filled in for Westburg since then. “It may be a little while longer.”
Six people have applied for the job, Langley said, citing Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s office. The original deadline was April 29, but Langley said that would be extended “for at least a couple more weeks in hopes to attract more candidates.”
When Westburg was hired, she was chosen from a pool of 30 candidates.
Under the city’s charter, the mayor will appoint the new director, subject to approval by the City Council. Sciarra’s search committee will conduct interviews along with the Human Resources Department and make recommendations to the mayor.
In response to a question from member Geriann Butler, Langley reiterated that the Council on Aging has no authority over the hiring process.
“I just want clarification, because of what has happened four years ago, that this committee does not have a role in choosing the person for the director,” Butler said, citing controversy over Westburg’s hiring — many seniors said they preferred a different candidate — and subsequent rule changes that led to an outcry from members of the public to the Council on Aging.
“As an advisory group, we have no say-so in hiring anybody. … [W]e have no personnel responsibilities,” Langley said in response.
Langley is on the mayor’s search committee along with City Council President James Nash, Public Health Director Merridith O’Leary, Sciarra’s chief of staff Alan Wolf, and Kathleen Bowler, director of member services at Massachusetts Councils on Aging. She said she plans to ask the other search committee members if the job candidates can meet the Senior Center staff and the council.
“They seem pretty open and flexible,” Langley said.
A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, geriatrics or a related field is required for the position, according to an online job listing, along with three to four years of progressively responsible social services management experience with a senior population.
Candidates must be certified in CPR, first aid and the use of defibrillators, and must be able to receive certification to view the criminal background checks of volunteers. A Massachusetts driver’s license is required.
The anticipated salary range is $59,000-$77,000 per year.
The Senior Center is without an assistant director, as well. Langley said that position is unlikely to be filled before the director is hired.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.