[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100304,"mediaKeyId","2813674-35d4dac99f0e5097e412e9fa320c71f5","parentId",2813674,"title","City Services Committee gives positive recommendation for Patricia Healy to fill Northampton Housing Authority vacancy","audioSeconds",778,"startMs",104000,"endMs",882000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813674-35d4dac99f0e5097e412e9fa320c71f5&start=104&end=882","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813674-35d4dac99f0e5097e412e9fa320c71f5/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100304/Massachusetts/City-Services-Committee-gives-positive-recommendation-for-Patricia-Healy-to-fill-Northampton-Housing-Authority-vacancy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100304-1215031818eb427a0d151a151d89ea35/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151430&Signature=mr3PflkoZETL8UsxQTN-fQlWkRPjxLaDp1RKh1qwnFxpZPfJF2UCjDbHTdYQvQS1GJObkjsq7WCMzlHM6vRpsfwz4iEpJypmDx~5cpAYIca~ZCB2J~Aa2b16Pt5kBzBbmF9pMAaPNfDXDTAn0vcuIyIxtBI6758kNIn6yO7HMnZi2reDMuZW9T07oPWX-ZuJSDuhwZfdCpxf8lWZYBJbiyPrUWkcPptYTSW461fm1TfTh1WeA~Fzkq71Mzrff2QdXtRSDM3d1SIvvJePyKDmmKI~XdXDkGeXFJma-MNrC94WIk6ab6WExV5NOHZrWRcXIVCjiRWhiV02kWa6p~JSFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The City Services Committee on Feb. 18 voted 3–1 to give a positive recommendation to the City Council for the appointment of Patricia Healy to a vacancy on the Northampton Housing Authority.

Councillor LaBarge reported on a conversation she had with Healy and presented Healy’s background to the committee. LaBarge said Healy told her, “I worked for 3 years as a nurse case manager at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital,” and that Healy has collaborated with hospital social work staff on patient discharge plans and affordable housing availability. LaBarge also reported that Healy said she had read Department of Housing and Community Development regulations and Massachusetts General Laws governing local housing authorities.

The recommendation matters because it would fill one of several current vacancies on the local housing authority and add a member the committee described as experienced in health care, case management and tenant relations. LaBarge said Healy has lived in Florence since 1990, has three adult daughters who graduated from Northampton Public Schools, and has decades of nursing experience. LaBarge also reported Healy’s stated interests in addressing resident security concerns and building tenant-management relationships.

Councillor Stan Moulton, who presided over the meeting, and other members praised Healy’s prior public service. Moulton recalled working with Healy on the 2019 Charter Review Commission and said, “I found her to be extremely, well prepared” and “a very pleasant and productive member of the Charter Review Commission.” Councillor Dobbs seconded LaBarge’s motion to recommend Healy.

Councillor Rothenberg asked whether Healy had ever lived in public housing; LaBarge said she did not know and could not answer that question. The committee did not resolve that question before voting.

The roll call on the committee’s positive recommendation recorded three yes votes (Councillor LaBarge, Councillor Dobbs, Councillor Moulton) and one no vote (Councillor Rothenberg). The item will be placed on the City Council agenda for Thursday for final action.

No formal motion text beyond the recommendation was recorded at the committee meeting.

Background and affiliations cited at the meeting included Healy’s reported work as a registered nurse and case manager, her service on the Northampton Charter Review Commission, service on the Northampton Council on Aging, involvement with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and with MassCare (a Massachusetts single-payer advocacy group). The committee noted multiple vacancies on the housing authority and said the seat being recommended had been vacated by a member who no longer lives in Northampton.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northampton City Services Committee | February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Services Committee on Feb. 18 voted 3–1 to give a positive recommendation to the City Council for the appointment of Patricia Healy to a vacancy on the Northampton Housing Authority.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100301,"Councillors raise concerns about DPW staffing and wages; committee suggests bringing issue to council president",302,914000,1216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813674-35d4dac99f0e5097e412e9fa320c71f5&start=914&end=1216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813674-35d4dac99f0e5097e412e9fa320c71f5/thumbnail_914000.jpg","/articles/6100301/Massachusetts/Councillors-raise-concerns-about-DPW-staffing-and-wages-committee-suggests-bringing-issue-to-council-president","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100301-29be9b06beab0595df5edd45bbc05b68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151430&Signature=maFU1CnVpNgR3Q-aL0qA0Z6uYfafPL6Xgbc1~Kxr0KXZX52tw0023BCYL8EiV9UAeHNvzQLNAv0MEE9~CRDihjKa6ZIlCwKkXgkTlXL1AVrAINwIvgs3YcHuhPfATJAUK00UbD5t8FeBmemS0A9BjsWWOY9LrA0KAhlu3xViPP92xSqsl~~b3YC~6my2dUizwfApWaDMZ1Dq8n0XRq8DJjiIh24SBxSlZH7~UhIIrxBVr7w49oVY26p1axpywW53OZndrU~s2LSUdU7b9G1S0sGZ6HrfteOhh55RP78BXQNsvkHrQKDu0jTfF3gRzhJhhOppYb46q~~ueRdHOyA07A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councillor Rothenberg raised a request at the Feb. 18 City Services Committee meeting to use the subcommittee’s oversight role to review staffing levels and wages at the Department of Public Works, saying low wages may be contributing to persistent vacancies and operational strain.

Rothenberg said she wanted an operational review that would examine how staffing is used, how vacancies affect operations and how Northampton compares to neighboring jurisdictions that are recruiting successfully. She said, “I’m concerned about the wages. I’m concerned that they're too low to attract people to fill the vacancies,” and asked for more detailed information and comparisons.

Committee members discussed the issue but did not take formal action. Councillor Moulton noted prior comments from Director LaScala that municipalities have difficulty competing with the private sector for wages and that pay scales are set through bargaining with unions. Councillor LaBarge and others described ongoing recruitment and retention challenges at DPW and suggested the problem is not unique to Northampton.

Committee members recommended that Rothenberg take the idea to Council President Jarrett to determine an appropriate forum for a fuller discussion, such as a City Council presentation. No motion, referral or formal assignment to staff was recorded at the meeting.

The discussion reflected operational concerns in services such as plowing and other seasonal work; councillors described retirements and resignations as contributing to the staffing shortage. The committee set no deadline or next steps beyond the suggestion to consult City Council leadership.","Councillor Rothenberg asked the City Services Committee to investigate staffing and wage levels at the Department of Public Works, citing vacancies and operational impacts. Committee members suggested taking the issue to City Council leadership for a broader forum; no formal referral or vote occurred.","actionData","errors"]

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City Services Committee gives positive recommendation for Patricia Healy to fill Northampton Housing Authority vacancy

Councillors raise concerns about DPW staffing and wages; committee suggests bringing issue to council president