SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board approved Deborah Sawyer Nutter as the new Housing Commissioner in a unanimous vote Wednesday evening, filling a role that has been vacant since November.
The Housing Authority had nominated Sawyer Nutter to fill the position’s vacancy in December. The search for a replacement began when Paul Green formally resigned from the role the previous month.
“Some time ago we received a resignation of one the members of the housing authority, and it’s my responsibility to come up with a nominee to present to the Select Board,” said Charlie Patsios, vice chair of the Housing Authority.
Patsios then introduced Sawyer-Nutter, who was present at the meeting along with several other members of the Housing Authority, to the board to ask questions before taking an official vote.
“We have an opportunity this evening for you to ask questions or whatever it is that formally you’d like to do to confirm our selection,” Patsios said.
Sawyer Nutter took a moment to speak before the board. “I recently retired from the housing industry after 45 years,” she said. She recalled that back in 1992 she and her mother formed The Caleb Group, a non-profit organization for affordable housing that serves over 5,000 residents of New England.
“I don’t know public housing as well, since I’ve been on the private side,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to a crash-course of sorts and learning as much as I can.”
“We’re incredibly lucky to have you and share your expertise around the Housing Authority,” board member David Grishman said. “I think it’s certainly something that we’ve had for the last year about moving forward with a feasibility study to potentially redevelop.”
“I think your skill sets will fit in well with those initiatives,” Grishman added. “And I’m incredibly supportive of your addition to the Housing Authority.”
