Crowley to helm changes at GLSS

LYNN – City Councilor-at-large Paul Crowley is preparing to assume the role of executive director at Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) on July 1.Crowley, a local business owner and current president of the GLSS Board of Directors, will repla-ce Ronald Airey as executive di-rector.Airey, the agency’s chief financial officer for 10 years and its executive director for three, last Mar-ch announced plans to retire upon reaching age 65 in July. He became exe-cutive director following the death of Vince Lique, who headed the agency for many years.GLSS services Lynn, Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott and Nahant, providing daily services to more than 3,000 people.”My first order of business will be to better acquaint myself with all the programs,” Crowley said Wednesday. “Ron did a great job but he told us he planned to retire. Besides, he has some personal matters that make it more difficult for him to give his full-time commitment to the job.”According to Crowley, who has been a member of the GLSS Board of Directors for seven years, including more than four on its Finance Committee, many changes are in store.”The changes won’t be immediate, but we are in the process of moving the agency’s transportation department from Peabody to Lynn. It has been in Peabody for 10 years but I’ve always felt it belonged here,” he said.To accomplish the move, GLSS has leased space at the Clocktower Business Center on the Lynnway – offices for its transportation staff and a warehouse for its 188 vehicles, including sedans, buses and handicapped-accessible wheelchair vans.”This will bring 250 jobs back to Lynn and that number will grow to 500 over a five-year period,” Crowley said. “Right now, we have 200 drivers and 50 support staff.”GLSS has also signed a five-year contact with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to provide the transportation services to Greater Lynn senior citizens.In order to quality for the MBTA, the agency was required to have a location for its vehicles, preferably one that provides shelter, such as a warehouse. “We had outgrown the Peabody location,” he said. “The facility gives up 100,000 square feet of indoor parking, plus office space.”Crowley said he will give up his role in the payroll business that he runs with his wife, in order to give his full attention to GLSS, which has 600 employees. The executive directorship salary has paid over $100,000 in the past. “My salary will be on par with Ron’s and Vince’s before that,” he said. “Vince was around for so long that he always would forgo increases out of concern for the agency.”Lique died in 2006 after serving more than 25 years as a community advocate for the elderly and as executive director.Board member Kathy Vadala said the decision to name Crowley executive director was easy to make. “Paul has spent hours working with us at GLSS, and he will make the transition easily,” she said. “Senior staff works well with Paul and we are sure he will work just as well with all staff members. This is a win-win for GLSS. If we had to lose Ron Airey, then gaining Paul as the executive director is the best choice. Paul will continue to work tirelessly to make sure the organization lives up to the vision and legacy of Vince Lique.”