HADLEY — A contest to serve on the board that oversees the Golden Court and Burke Way properties, the town’s two state housing projects for low-income senior citizens, disabled individuals and families, highlights Tuesday’s town election.
Two Golden Court residents, Tracey Reilly, who has lived at the site for 18 months, and Sue Oppenheimer, a 20-year resident, are competing for a five-year term on the Hadley Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Senior Center.
The only other contest is for a two-year term on the Board of Health between Emma M.H. Dragon, who was appointed last year, and John C. Waskiewicz, a former Select Board member who lost reelection in 2022.
Both Reilly and Oppenheimer, who are looking to replace John Allen, who opted against pursuing reelection, will bring different experiences and visions for the sites run by the Amherst Housing Authority for the past several years, with Oppenheimer concerned about the condition of the properties, but Reilly pleased with what she has experienced.
Oppenheimer said not enough is being done to improve the quality of the housing stock at Golden Court and Burke Way.
“It feels like housing is a broken system, especially since we’ve gotten taken over by Amherst, which is nothing but a huge corporation,” Oppenheimer said.
“Management is warehousing tenants here, and think that’s just wrong,” Oppenheimer said. “One thing people seem to lack who run these places is empathy.”
An ex-union steward, Oppenheimer said it’s been evident that maintenance is lacking. “Instead of getting a maintenance person when I called, I had to get my own advocate to get any repairs done,” Oppenheimer said.
Oppenheimer said she is also concerned that there is no grievance committee or outlet for people to express themselves, and management reinstalled security cameras that had previously been removed after complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union.
“You’re targeted here if you are vocal,” Oppenheimer said. “Listening is so important.”
Reilly, a military police veteran who also spent eight years doing Door Dash, said she knows how to compromise and get results.
“I believe in good, positive change, where we can find common good to put into action,” Reilly said, pointing out that bird feeders were removed, but she successfully helped to get them back, understanding that they simply needed to be moved.
Amherst’s backing has put the properties on better financial footing than when Hadley’s sites were run independently.
“Amherst is really doing a great job.” she said. Everything also seems to be running right and “the other 98%” are happy living there.
“They’re doing such a great job. It’s been a joy since maintenance is always here, and all of these apartments are beautiful,” Railly said.
Reilly said she also wouldn’t ignore the needs of the families at Burke Way. “They’re just as important as we are. I want to build a neighborhood, with cookouts and get-togethers.”
“We love our apartments, we love this place, and we’d like to try to work with all our neighbors,” Reilly said, “We have an opportunity to have a better place here.”
Incumbents are running for most of the remaining elected positions, including for Select Board, where Jane H. Nevinsmith is seeking a second, three-year term. Also, for School Committee, Tara M. Brugger will seek a third, three-year term, while Ethan Percy is pursuing his second term. James J. Maksimoski, first elected to the Planning Board in 1983, is running for his ninth five-year term.
Other incumbents running unopposed include William R. Banack for a three-year term on Board of Assessors; Dr. Susan Mosler for a three-year term on Board of Health; James W. Shea for a three-year term on Park Commission; and Maureen K. Devine for a one-year term as Elector under the Oliver Smith Will.
Jo-Ann Konieczny, a former trustee, and John Hallock, are running for the two, three-year library trustee positions held by Devine and Alan M. Weinberg.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
