Outgoing Executive Director Laura Glynn received high praise from the Saugus Housing Authority Members

By Mark E. Vogler

As she reflected on a career that spanned more than a decade overseeing the town’s public housing, the Housing Authority’s outgoing Executive Director, Laura Glynn, wouldn’t discuss the greatest accomplishments made under her management. “My relations with the residents – that’s what matters the most,” Glynn said in a brief interview following Wednesday’s (Feb. 14) Authority meeting.

Glynn was hired as executive director in June of 2013.

To the disappointment of Authority members who want to see her remain on the job for the foreseeable future, Glynn plans to leave the position this spring so she can spend more time taking care of her ailing father. She said April 5 will probably be her last day, but hinted she may continue on a consultant basis to help with the transition of the new director. The Authority voted unanimously at this week’s meeting to begin negotiations with Katelynn M. Lemieux (see related story) to succeed Glynn.

“If we had our choice, we’d keep her on. Laura’s done an outstanding job for us,” Authority Chair William Stewart said.

“Accomplishments are almost impossible when the state and federal governments don’t fund what’s needed,” he said.

Stewart said one of Glynn’s greatest assets is her ability to get along with and relate to tenants on the four Housing Authority properties and the nine Housing Authority employees that she supervises. “Tenants and staff really appreciate the way she treats people,” Stewart said.

“Laura has done an awfully good job for us, especially in finance. We have $53,000 that we can use if we need to replace anything in the laundry room,” he said.

Longtime Authority Member Dorothy Bockus called Glynn “a great director.” “She was a good person to hire, and I’m glad I did,” said Bockus, who has been on the Authority since 2009.

“She’s very interactive with all of the tenants. If somebody calls with a problem, she rectifies it as soon as possible,” she said.

Bockus said she thought that the state wasn’t paying Glynn enough for her services, noting that she only got a two percent raise for this coming year while the people she supervised received a seven percent increase in pay.

Former Housing Authority Member John Cannon said Glynn has been the heart and soul of the Housing Authority in her own quiet way. “It’s going to be tough to replace her, but nothing lasts forever,” Cannon said.