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Northampton Housing Authority names search committee, hires consultant for executive director search
Summary
The board created a search committee made up of three commissioners and LTO representatives, approved resident participation, and voted to hire MassNaro to manage recruiting for a new executive director following the former director’s departure.
Chairperson Patty Healy announced the board will move forward with a formal search for a new executive director after the December separation of former executive director Kara Leeper.
A search committee was established and approved by the board to balance efficiency with resident participation. The committee will include three board commissioners and one representative chosen by each recognized LTO; community members will be invited to participate as nonvoting contributors and the commissioners on the committee will determine the final number and identity of community participants. The board emphasized that LTO involvement is required by public‑housing guidance and should be part of the early stages of the process.
The board also voted to retain a search consultant to manage outreach, receive resumes and help screen candidates. The board approved engaging MassNaro (often referenced in the meeting as MassNaro/Mass Narrow) as the consultant. Chair Healy said a consultant is useful to collect resumes and perform the administrative work around recruitment while the panel and residents focus on criteria and interviews. Commissioner Jeff described a prior search in which a three‑person committee reviewed dozens of resumes, narrowed the field and then opened finalist interviews to tenants and staff for public Q&A sessions.
Residents and LTO leaders at the meeting pressed for meaningful involvement. Lisa Morales (Cahill resident/secretary) cited an applicable public‑housing notice and asked that tenants be included when candidates are reviewed and interviewed; several tenant leaders said they wanted an early and genuine role in evaluating finalists.
The board agreed on a target timeline consistent with typical searches: posting and initial resume collection within weeks, with an expectation the process should be completed in a few months but recognizing flexibility for outreach and interviews. The board moved to authorize the search committee and to engage MassNaro; both measures passed on roll calls during the Jan. 26 meeting.
Next steps: the commissioners and LTO representatives selected to the search committee will work with the consultant on a job description, outreach plan and screening criteria, then present a schedule for public and staff engagement.
