NORTHAMPTON — Todd Ford has formally announced his intention to continue as executive director of the Hampshire Council of Governments, a decision that won the backing of the council’s Executive Committee at its meeting on Thursday.
“It’s a vital time for the organization,” said Ford on his decision.
A new contract for Ford, which carries an annual salary of $123,625 and came with a $15,000 bonus, was approved in January and expires in June of 2018.
As part of Ford’s contract, he must formally announce to the council’s executive committee his intentions on whether or not he would like to continue in his role at least seven months prior to his contract’s expiration. After receiving a letter with Ford’s intention to stay, the executive committee voted 5-0 to recommend that Ford be kept on.
This vote was then shared with the full council.
“It gives me confidence that the council and the staff are on the same page,” said Ford.
Ford said that he looks forward to working with the HCG’s executive and strategic planning committees to help create a model regional entity.
Ford said residents should pay attention to the council’s Solar Thermal Challenge, for which HCG received a grant this fall from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
The $141,875 grant funds three rounds of outreach to get consumers to have solar hot water heaters installed in their homes, and the effort is set to run through the first quarter of 2018. HCG’s favored plan is modeled after the Solarize Mass program, and will connect consumers with at least one installer that will install solar hot water at a discount.
“We have so many homeowners that can really benefit from this,” said Ford.
HCG was the first organization to receive such a grant from MCEC, and outreach in the Eastern part of the state is planned for next year.
HCG is a quasi-governmental organization that counts 15 Hampshire County communities among its members. Although it has traditionally served its members through bulk purchasing, the council has increased its renewable energy business in recent years.
At its fall Town Meeting, Hadley began the process of withdrawing from the HCG.