Housing authority withdraws single-officer grievance plan

Other Committee · Meeting of October 19, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Housing Authority board pulled a proposal to let one hearing officer replace a three-person grievance panel after commissioners said they needed more detail. Chairperson Patty Healy and Commissioner Katie Rose agreed to form a subcommittee to draft a revised plan. Commissioner Hank Obrashkin, who sought to table the motion, said the authority currently has no complete grievance panel while a tenant is already seeking a hearing, calling a commissioner serving as sole hearing officer "a conflict of interest." The board separately approved Section 8 payment standards and public housing flat rents effective January 1, 2027, covering close to 1,000 vouchers, and a $37,000 Cahill project administrative fee, with Rose abstaining, plus a $50,000 Salvo roof project fee, both unanimous otherwise.

Residents in public comment said a promised accessible washing machine has not arrived since July and that a ramp closed for two months has blocked wheelchair access to the office and laundry room.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of October 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.