I absolutely concur with the statements made by Marlene Marrocco and Lorraine Weimann at the last City Council meeting’s public session regarding the position of the director of the Northampton Senior Services.
I am also a Council on Aging board member, one of several that are disappointed with the mayor’s choice for director. Let me make it very clear that our concern has nothing to do with the qualifications of the mayor’s pick for the position. She is certainly well qualified both in educational background and professional experience.
It suffices to say so is Heather Cahillane, the current assistant director. What she has that should not be overlooked is a superior knowledge of the history and the workings of the Council on Aging and the senior center as well as an in-depth understanding of the needs and wants of Northampton’s seniors.
She has proven her dedication. She is an innovator of programs such as the Bistro lunch program and organizing the many volunteers that make the center run as a well-oiled machine. She has filled in as the director not once, but twice, flawlessly.
In our minds she has paid her dues and deserves to be promoted to the position of director. It is absolutely the right and best thing to do.
The mayor commented publicly after the meeting that there were two board members placed on the hiring and interview committee. What he didn’t mention, is that he selected the two and put them on the committee, not the board. I do not know if they truly represented the wishes of the entire board as we, as a board, had no say in the matter. I get the feeling after serving many years that since we are just an advisory board it really doesn’t matter what we say or think.
Passing on Heather Cahillane is truly unbelievable and very sad. Not only is it very unfair to Heather Cahillane, but also to the seniors of Northampton who stood to gain from her vast knowledge, continued support, vision, dedication and hard work.
John Kaczenski Jr.
Florence
The writer submitted this letter before he resigned Thursday from the Northampton Council on Aging.