What a sad and unfortunate day for Northampton in not choosing Heather Cahillane as the new director of Senior Services (“Senior center shakeup,” April 14-15).
We had a gem of a staff at the senior center. Good luck to the remaining staff —I don’t know how you can do more for our seniors, but you are going to be finding out.
Instead of rewarding a more qualified candidate for all her hard work, accomplishments, and love of the seniors, the mayor chose to go outside the city and select someone who is more in line with what the mayor wants the Senior Center to be.
Our senior center will be going through quite a transition (more than just a staff change). Strap yourself in and wait and see.
It was with mixed emotions that after three-plus years of being a Council on Aging board member, it became necessary for me to resign, as I felt I was falsely represented on the search committee for our director. We did have two members from the board, but they were handpicked by the mayor — enough said.
Neither board member even consulted with any of us regarding our thoughts nor did they attend the City Council meeting on April 5 to speak publicly regarding the mayor’s choice. I find that concerning.
What we need now is for the City Council to do what the Mayor would not — listen to senior center volunteers, board members and the Northampton community as to what they want at the center and who is best to do this.
Come to the next City Council meeting in the City Council chambers at 7 p.m. May 3 and give support for Heather Cahillane.
Lorraine Weimann
Florence
The writer is a former member of the Northampton Council on Aging who resigned April 12.