AMHERST — A new executive director to lead the Amherst Housing Authority is expected to be hired at a meeting of the Board of Commissioners next week.
The board is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the fifth floor lounge at Ann Whalen Apartments, where it will choose between Sandra Desrosiers, accreditation manager for the Affordable Housing Accreditation Board Inc., in Hartford, Connecticut, and Debbie Turgeon, the interim executive director who has more than 23 years working for the Amherst agency.
The person selected will replace Denise LeDuc, who retired at the end of June after leading the agency since January 2012.
Commission Chairwoman Laura Quinn said public interviews with the finalists were completed this week, and the commissioners will review evaluations and feedback before deliberating and taking a vote.
In her letter of interest, Desrosiers cites her past leadership at housing authorities.
“As an executive director of public housing authorities in the bordering community of Connecticut, I have an understanding of the size of the Amherst Housing Authority, the climate in which it operates and the programs and services it offers.”
Turgeon discussed her lengthy experience in her letter of interest.
“The expertise I have gained through the years allows me to serve as a strong leader, in which I have demonstrated compassion, patience and sensitivity in working with the diverse culture of our residents, applicants and the public.”
Quinn said the search was done in an inclusive, deliberate and professional manner.
“I am confident that the board’s decision on Wednesday will both reflect that process and result in the very best choice of leadership for the Amherst Housing Authority now and into the future, so that it can thoughtfully grow and actively pursue its mission in the years ahead,” Quinn said.
Turgeon and Desrosiers were selected following a search led by Robert Half Executive Search of Boston, with advertisements placed in 11 publications and with 20 organizations in the state.
Applications were received from 25 individuals, with eight interviewed by Robert Half’s search manager, Emily Neill, and three of these then interviewed by a housing authority screening committee made up of commissioners Quinn and Stephen Jefferson, Barbara Steinmetz, Michael Burkart and Hwei-Ling Greeney. The subcommittee recommended the two finalists last month.
