SHELBURNE — The final three members of the Shelburne Housing Authority were honored Tuesday afternoon, as the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority celebrated the merging of the two agencies.

Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Gina Govoni recognized Susan Flaccus, Kim Levitch and Rita Maccini for their respective 5, 20 and 23 years of service, which concluded in December when then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed Chapter 297 of the Acts of 2022, which merged the Shelburne Housing Authority and its properties into its regional counterpart.

“It has been an honor working with all of you,” Maccini said to the group of tenants, board members and town officials who gathered at Highland Village on Tuesday. “I enjoyed my time here.”

Govoni said the move creates administrative efficiencies for the regional housing authority, while also ensuring budgetary issues do not plague residents at Highland Village, a public housing project for seniors and people with disabilities. Both of these improvements, she added, led to the housing authority being able to dedicate more time to serving residents.

“I believe this merger could be a model for preserving public housing … and I feel it is something that can help with efficiency,” Govoni said. “I look forward to seeing how it works.”

Highland Village Tenants Organization President Penny Clark thanked the outgoing members for their work with the residents of the housing complex.

“It certainly is exciting,” Clark said of the merger. “I’m going to miss the voices of the Shelburne Housing Authority because you have been so encouraging. You are so appreciated and you will be missed.”

The Shelburne Housing Authority has operated Highland Village since 1977 and contracted day-to-day operations with the Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority for years, according to Shelburne’s town website. There are more than 200 housing authorities in Massachusetts, with several operating in Franklin County, including Greenfield, Montague and Orange, alongside the regional agency.

The bill merging the housing authorities was sponsored by state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, and Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and was helped across the finish line by Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, who was elected to serve Shelburne last year.

Blais was on hand to deliver proclamations from the House and Senate to Flaccus, Levitch and Maccini for their years of work with the Shelburne Housing Authority, including taking on this “innovative, ground-breaking, precedent-setting” merger. She also thanked the tenants of Highland Village for their advocacy.

“It speaks to how powerful your voices are,” Blais said. “It’s a testament to your efforts.”

Speaking after the event, Levitch said he and everyone else who has served on the Shelburne Housing Authority over the years has done a ton of work on the facilities to make Highland Village a great public housing project.

He noted this was a “unique” merger and it took everyone involved, including the legislative delegation, to bring this project to fruition.

“It couldn’t have worked without Natalie and Sen. Comerford,” Levitch said. “It really is fantastic for affordable housing in Franklin County.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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