NORTHAMPTON — More than a year after the former executive director of the Northampton Housing Authority was suspended — and five months after her resignation — four candidates have emerged to lead the beleaguered agency.
The search process, which is expected to be completed in the next three weeks, comes as the authority grapples with high vacancy rates and resident complaints of poor property management and criminal activity in NHA properties.
In a series of community forums held at various NHA buildings this week, residents have been invited to review the resumes of the four candidates — Kathleen Povar, Andrew Skoog, Maryrose Menash and interim executive director Sharon Kimble — and share their viewpoints for who should lead the authority in the wake of Cara Leiper, who resigned in December amid an investigation into alleged wrongdoing.
Despite the dates of these forums being publicly announced at the NHA’s May 18 meeting, the press was kicked out of a forum at the Walter Salvo House Wednesday morning after Jim Nash, a member of the board of commissioners, alerted the board to a Gazette reporter’s presence. That prompted Board Chair Patricia Healey to, without a formal vote, make an “executive decision,” not to allow press at the meetings. She noted that sensitive subject matter might be discussed.
“I’ll make an executive decision that we should not have press in the room,” Healey said at the forum. “You can talk to us after the meeting if we decide to do so.”
The board agreed, though no vote was taken on the matter or to enter into executive session.
Prior to the reporter being kicked of the meeting, one resident responded to Healey’s commendation of Kimble, noting that she frequently has to deal with loud disturbances from drug dealers in her building and wants an executive director who can make the properties safe.
Healey, who was appointed to the board in January 2025 as a mayoral appointee, expressed an appreciation for Kimble, explaining that following the Leiper investigation she wanted to “clean house,” but came to appreciate Kimble’s leadership.
“I didn’t know Sharon [Kimble] either … I will say, in all fairness, when I walked into this seat, and we went through that whole investigation, it was abundantly clear to my peers that I wanted everybody gone and a clean house,” she said. “I think we have some good options, but I no longer have that position that Sharon should go, because she was part of the last 15 years. She has demonstrated some leadership and the desire to improve the organization. She’s discussed with me the lack of management structure, where there was no structure before.”
Leiper resigned from her position late last year after being on paid administrative leave for nine months. Her resignation followed a January 2025 complaint submitted to the authority’s board and various state agencies accusing her of numerous legal and ethical violations that include providing housing to close friends and family members.
A public records request by the Gazette seeking the results of that $120,000 yearlong investigation into Leiper’s conduct has been denied by both the NHA and the state, citing personnel reasons.
Here’s a look at the four finalists for the executive director position.
Andrew Skoog
With 14 years of experience in public housing, Skoog, the deputy director at the Fitchburg Housing Authority (FHA), wrote in his cover letter that he believed the Northampton position would fit well with his skill set and experience.
“I believe that the duties are similar to those I currently hold at the FHA. As the Executive Director, I am confident that my abilities will excel the organization as a whole,” he wrote. “Over the past seven years in my role as the deputy director, I have led the FHA staff to increase customer service and efficiency in property management; aggressively turning over old vacancies to house families in need and providing better services to keep them housed.”
Prior to his work at the FHA, Skoog said he worked as the chief operating officer at the housing nonprofit Opportunities for Hope in Fitchburg and as the family self-sufficiency coordinator at the Malborough Community Development Authority.
Maryrose Menash
Stating that she has more than two decades of social services and nonprofit leadership throughout Northampton, Menash has served as the deputy chief operating officer of the Community Care Alliance in Woonsocket, Rhode Island since 2023.
In the professional summary of her resume, Menash referred to herself as a “highly effective service-focused leader with a strong commitment to deepen the lives of disadvantaged populations including those experiencing homelessness, co-occurring disorders, mental health and substance misuse.”
Prior to her work at the Community Care Alliance, Menash served as the director of Homelessness and housing stabilization at the state of Rhode Island Department of Housing from 2021 to 2023 and from 2017 to 2021, served as the Pawtucket Housing Authority’s resident services manager.
Kathleen Povar
In her cover letter, Povar, who spent the last 12 years serving as the Fall River Housing Authority’s director of field operations, wrote that her more than 30 years of experience in public housing administration brings “strategic leadership, regulatory expertise and operational discipline.”
“The Northampton Housing Authority deserves a steady, strategic and mission-driven leader. I am ready to bring that leadership to your organization and am fully prepared to relocate to the Northampton area to ensure consistent, on-site executive presence,” she wrote. “I have built and led high-performing teams grounded in professionalism, fairness and resident-centered customer service.”
Prior to her current role, Povar served as the Providence Housing Authority’s (PHA) family programs manager between 2008 and 2014. She also served as PHA’s education and training program manager, family self-sufficiency coordinator, research analyst and computer resource specialist.
Sharon Kimble
Kimble’s cover letter promises a continuation of her current leadership, which began when she first became acting executive director in September. She touted her “culture-repair initiatives,” and “strengthened HR practices” leading the NHA.
“I have guided the organization through a period of significant transition. I implemented culture-repair initiatives, strengthened HR practices, rebuil[t] communication across the departments and restored a safe and respectful work environment,” she wrote. “I also stabilized the maintenance department by hiring a Director of Maintenance, improving oversight and increasing responsiveness to residents.”
Prior to her position as the acting executive director, Kimble served as the NHA’s chief accounting officer for 13 years.
