EASTHAMPTON — Amid boisterous jeers and cheers in a packed community room at Cliffview Manor, the Housing Authority board Tuesday night announced the executive director’s intention to resign on June 23, shortly before agreeing to a contract that will have the Northampton Housing Authority take over management of its properties for the next three years.

Deborah Walker, who was hired to lead the Easthampton Housing Authority in October 2014, told the Gazette that her resignation was due to “personal reasons,” and that she provided a verbal notice of her intention to resign to Chairperson Betty Burnham, but did not want to elaborate further.

Though the board did not provide any further comment about Walker’s resignation, members did approve a three-year contract with an annual fee of $118,607 with the Northampton Housing Authority (NHA) to manage the properties.

Cara Leiper, NHA’s executive director, explained that the fee is calculated by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Our goal is to have a seamless transition so that residents and staff alike can continue the operations as they’ve been seeing them,” Leiper said. “It’ll be as though Deb never left as far as the policies and procedures are concerned.”

While the board did unanimously approve the three-year contract, the vote was not without discussion.

Board member Mary Church was hesitant to approve the contract, noting that she was just finding out the specifics of the management plan that day. She also indicated that she was unaware of Walker’s intention to resign until she saw the agenda.

“Everyone knew I was resigning,” Walker said.

“I didn’t know,” Church said.

After Walker notified Burnham of her intention to resign, Burnham said she contacted the DHCD and the state agency recommended turning to the Northampton Housing Authority for a management contract. When asked by Church if the Easthampton housing board had any other options, Burnham replied, “no.”

“I called them because we weren’t going to have anybody in the office at the end of the month,” she said.

Vice Chairperson Joe McCoy also expressed concerns for the three-year contract, curious as to what point the Easthampton board could consider undertaking a search for an executive director on its own.

Leiper said that the turnaround time to hire her to take the helm in Northampton was roughly 10 months of interviews and 24 months to fill the position.

She said the contract stipulates that the Easthampton board can cancel the agreement with a 60-day notice if its members are not satisfied with Northampton’s services.

Originally, Leiper had proposed a five-year contract, but said Burnham pushed back. Leiper said the three-year time frame would allow time for the her agency to evaluate Easthampton’s circumstances. Two additional years would allow Northampton’s management group to “thrive” in Easthampton.

“I honestly think that we’re going to make it so easy for you, you’re not going to want to go that route again,” Leiper said. “DHCD recommended us because we did a really amazing job, and I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but I’m tooting my own horn because it’s hard work. It’s not an easy job.”

There are approximately 200 adult tenants living in 188 units at Easthampton Housing Authority properties that include more than 50 buildings citywide.

Management plan

Before the approval of the management contract, Leiper gave a brief presentation on Northampton’s management plan.

NHA is a political subdivision of the state established in 1946 and is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and DHCD for the administration of affordable housing for low-to-moderate income families in Hampshire County.

The quasi-public agency maintains public housing at the McDonald House, Forsander and Cahill Apartments, Tobin Manor, Salvo House, and Hampshire and Florence Heights. The association also administers a Housing Choice Voucher program, more commonly known as Section 8, and works with the Veterans Administration to handdle vouchers.

“We’re considered a very large housing authority. We have 619 physical units and almost 1,000 vouchers,” Leiper said.

She noted that Northampton has experience in aiding a housing authority with an exiting director. In 2020, the NHA took over fee management of the Hampshire County Regional Housing Authority, which includes the Hillside Terrace in Cummington with 14 units, Hamblin Court in Huntington with 22 units, and two duplexes in Huntington with four units.

Additionally, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, and state Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, are co-sponsoring a bill to dissolve the Hampshire County authority and incorporate its functions into the Northampton agency.

“We really have done a remarkable job for them,” Leiper said. “We achieved success by taking a team approach focusing on residents first.”

In her nine years in Northampton, Leiper said she’s only had one grievance hearing and another that is forthcoming.

Now that the Easthampton board has approved the contract, Leiper said the Northampton board will vote to approve the contract at its next meeting on June 26. Assuming that the contract is approved, Leiper said her agency will assume the management of the Easthampton Housing Authority the next day.

Mixed reactions to exit

Walker’s resignation has been met with mixed reactions. Several residents shouted “thank you” upon news of her resignation.

After the meeting, Ann Skowronek, a resident of Cliffview for the last 10 years, said that she really enjoyed her time with Walker.

“I’m really sad she’s leaving,” she said.

Members of the local tenants organization, however, weren’t as sad to see Walker go.

Denise “Dee” Ducharme, president of the organization, called Walker’s resignation a “good” thing as she feels Walker “brought this all on herself.” In the past, Ducharme has alleged that Walker and other staff have provided poor customer service and created an atmosphere of intimidation.

“Many, many people are thrilled that this resignation has come forward. Now, we look forward to working with the Northampton Housing Authority,” Ducharme said.

Debra Dominguez, vice president of the EHA board, said she was pleased with Leiper’s presentation.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” she said. “I think by using the words, ‘members come first and their needs’ — this is what we’ve been pushing for.”

City Councilors Tom Peake and President Homar Gomez also both attended the meeting, and spoke positively about the opportunity for change at the housing authority.

Peake said he hopes Easthampton’s new management will help to address some of the agency’s challenges.

“I think Easthampton is going to be in a better place. There’s a lot of tension between residents and the administrators, and I think it will be good to have a fresh start with new administrators,” Gomez said. “I hope it will add  better communication with the tenants and hope they feel that there’s someone listening to them.”

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@ gazettenet.com.]]>