Santos Steps Down as Housing Authority Director

executive director Edward Santos has submitted his official letter of resignation, according to the NHA Board of Commissioners. On Nov. 30, assistant director Eileen Merritt will take over as interim director, should she accept the board's offer.

Merritt, who has acted in since he reportedly left work early on Sept. 8, said she will discuss the offer more with the board in a couple of weeks. The board specified that the interim director would serve for a period no longer than six months or until a new executive director is chosen. Board chairman Gina Govoni said the authority owes it to the NHA and to the town to have a broad search for a new leader, but said Merritt's current position would neither hurt nor help her chance to be chosen, should she decide to apply. The board will work with the Cedar Garden Tenants' Association to search for Santos' replacement.

In August, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development sent a letter to Santos mandating that the authority the organization's dire financial state and repair old vacant units so as to open them to new tenants. Merritt to the state by Sept. 26 to avoid potential receivership, which would mean the authority would have been taken over by the state and the board would have ceased to exist. Santos did not attend work after Sept. 8 and was as executive director, according to attorney to the NHA, James Wood.

The board released a letter before going into executive session Thursday night, explaining that legal counsel has advised them not to comment or offer any further information regarding Santos' resignation or his employment.

"The uncertainty of the last few months has been trying for residents, staff and board members," the board wrote in the letter. "The board would like to once again recognize Eileen Merritt for stepping into a leadership role despite all of this uncertainty and completing what will be the roadmap for the NHA's recovery."

"The board is actively pursuing an independent third party audit to ensure that all public funds and resources have been used appropriately. This board will continue to implement reforms to ensure good governance and put the authority back on sound financial footing."

In February of this year, the board conducted the first in the members' shared memory, which prompted a heated Santos, who has been in his position for almost three decades, submitted his letter of resignation on Tuesday, according to the board.