SWAMPSCOTT — On Tuesday evening, the Housing Authority motioned to nominate Deborah Sawyer Nutter as the new Commissioner to fill the position’s vacancy.
Amidst discussion of who would act as replacement, Nutter was first mentioned by Executive Director Kevin Johnson. He noted the search initially began when Paul Green formally resigned from the position last month. Since then, Johnson has worked closely with Vice Chair Charlie Patsios on searching through town, trying to finding a successor to fill Green’s shoes.
Johnson said Nutter has an extensive history with housing. He emphasized her work co-founding the Caleb Group, a regional nonprofit affordable housing organization founded in 1992 by herself along with Warren and Joan Sawyer. The organization’s goal is to help provide secure, affordable housing for people with low-household incomes, according to its website.
“She probably has the most experience out of anyone when it comes to public housing,” Johnson said.
The Caleb Group currently has 36 properties which are home to approximately 4,900 people, the website states. In efforts to expand their work to assist more communities, the group has properties in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Nutter recently stepped down from helping run the organization and is currently retired, Johnson added. He said she accepted the Housing Authority’s proposal to fill the vacancy, pending approval of the Select Board.
Patios elaborated on the Housing Authority’s recent efforts to find a new Commissioner, saying that when a vacancy opens for a position, the Board searches for a successor, but the action must be later approved by the Select Board in a future hearing.
