Wellesley Council on Aging director resigns
Deborah Greenwood, the Wellesley Council on Aging‘s director of senior services, has resigned effective July 31.
COA patrons learned of the resignation on Thursday and the COA Board issued a brief statement on Friday:
On Thursday, July 31st, Deb Greenwood resigned from her position as Director of Senior Services, effective immediately.
Kathy Savage will continue as Acting Director until the Board makes a decision regarding filling the position on a permanent basis.
The Board thanks Deb for her efforts on behalf of the senior population of Wellesley and sends our best to her in her future career endeavors.
Judy Gertler
Chair, COA Board
We had reached out to the board, acting director, and Greenwood on Thursday, and reached out to the town’s HR director on Friday morning to verify the news after hearing about it. We received no responses, though the formal announcement does confirm the resignation.
The Council on Aging Board in April voted unanimously to ratify action by the town’s human resources department to place Greenwood on paid administrative leave. Kathleen Vogel, COA Board Chair at the time, stated during the April meeting that “HR received information last week of questions regarding Deb’s management and record keeping. Those questions are being investigated.” Vogel added that she had no further information on this, but that once investigations were complete, the Board would schedule a meeting with Greenwood in executive session (aka, behind closed doors) to discuss the results and determine if any discipline is appropriate.
A special board meeting was scheduled for July 31 that originally included these agenda items: “Discussion of annual performance evaluation – Director of Senior Services; Executive Session – G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(1), to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against the Director of Senior Services. Presentation and discussion of Capital Strategic Solutions climate assessment and departmental audit reports.”
The item on the reports was later removed from the agenda, then the meeting itself was canceled.
A notice posted today at the Tolles Parsons Center reads that “Due to Unforeseen Circumstances, the COA will be Closed at 3:30 pm Today.”
The COA Board has gingerly touched on the subject during recent public meetings, though has been limited in what it could say pending reports and privacy concerns.
Greenwood was introduced as the Wellesley COA director at the start of 2023. Hiring a director had proven challenging, with more than 100 resumes reviewed over several months. After a series of interviews, the Board for the COA was twice unable to close the deal with its choices.
Previous Wellesley COA Director Heather Munroe left in April of 2022 after a little more than two years on the job. Before that, Gayle Thieme led the COA for 16 years.