It was very disappointing for me and many others that Heather Cahillane was not selected as the new director for Northampton Senior Services and the senior center.
Her qualifications are exceptional. Her experiences are exceptional and knowledge and outreach are exceptional.
Heather has worked for five years at the senior center, first as the program coordinator, and in 2016 was promoted to assistant director. Heather works in, and has to deal with a more than 18,000-square-foot, multi-roomed senior center.
Heather works in an environment that has an ever-changing multitude of programs and services for the hundreds of participants who walk through the senior center doors. Heather works with and supervises over 100 dedicated senior center volunteers. Heather works with and supervises many senior center staff.
Heather works with community agencies and organizations that provide additional resources and services for the senior population.
The greatest benefit for the city of Northampton and our senior community would have been for Heather Cahillane to be selected as the next director of Northampton Senior Services and the senior center.
I am very sorry for Heather for not becoming the director and very sorry for all our seniors who will not benefit from Heather’s abilities as a director. Our seniors lose out again.
Barbara Fungaroli
Florence
The writer submitted this letter before she resigned Thursday from the Northampton Council on Aging.