NORTHAMPTON — The city is looking to hire a new director of Senior Services after the resignation of Marie Westburg earlier this month.
Appointed by former mayor David Narkewicz in April 2018, Westburg ran the Northampton Senior Center until April 1. Reached by phone on Monday, Westburg said that she is “changing fields” and plans to start a business.
“Northampton is grateful for Marie’s hard work and innovative thinking at the Senior Center. I wish her the best going forward,” Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said in a statement.
Asked about the center’s current leadership, Sciarra’s office said the city is “eternally grateful” that a team of volunteers, Senior Center staff, former directors and City Hall employees have stepped up to take on extra responsibilities until a new director is in place.
“I am proud to have helped modernize programs at the Northampton Senior Center and to have successfully guided the department through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Westburg said in a statement released by Sciarra’s office. “I have learned a great deal in my four years as Director and have decided it is time to move on to pursue new endeavors.”
Westburg was the director of the Williamsburg Senior Center for seven years before she was chosen from a pool of 30 applicants to replace Linda Desmond at the Northampton Senior Center after Desmond’s retirement.
Westburg’s time in Northampton was often turbulent. Many seniors spoke out publicly against her appointment, arguing that the center’s then-assistant director, Heather Cahillane, should have gotten the job instead. Cahillane resigned her role after Westburg was hired, and so did several members of the city’s Council on Aging advisory board.
Narkewicz said in 2018 that he chose Westburg based on her experience, broad background in social services, record of securing grants and growing Willamsburg’s programs, and positive feedback from local officials.
In 2019, after more than a year on the job, a group of seniors objected to a number of decisions under Westburg, which played out during Council on Aging meetings. Seniors packed a COA meeting and wrote a joint letter calling for certain changes to be undone, including the suspension of the bridge club and the removal of soda and sugary snacks from the center’s cafe.
Some seniors complained of a “punishing” atmosphere that focused on rules.
On Monday, Westburg said the Senior Center’s “membership boomed” and she implemented several successful changes during her tenure, like a partnership with the YMCA to offer group exercise classes. In 2019, the center began offering ukulele lessons, a meditation group and a cooking class, and added more than 500 members.
“Change is always hard with a new leader,” Westburg said.
In addition to running the Senior Center, the Senior Services director is responsible for fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning, managing the department budget and the city’s Tax Work-Off Program for seniors, organizing events to honor volunteers and serving as staff liaison to Council on Aging.
A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, geriatrics or a related field is required, according to an online job listing, along with three to four years of progressively responsible social services management experience with a senior population.
Candidates must be certified in CPR, first aid and the use of defibrillators, and must be able to receive certification to view the criminal background checks of volunteers. A Massachusetts driver’s license is required.
The anticipated salary range is $59,000-$77,000 per year, according to the job listing.
Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.