North Adams' Office of Community Development is searching for a community planner whose role would include finding project grant funding, working with the public on development projects and planning future projects, like figuring out how to fund and implement the results of the Route 2 Overpass study, said Director Marya Kozik.

NORTH ADAMS — After months of interviews and a hire that fell through days before the start date, the city is back to square one in its search for a community planner.

The delay leaves a key role unfilled in the city's Community Development Office, which is responsible for overseeing grants, housing initiatives and major infrastructure projects, when city officials say additional staff is critical to keeping those efforts moving forward.

The office again is accepting applications for the new position, which will help manage funding, planning and community outreach for many of the city’s housing, infrastructure and improvement projects, according to Director of Community Development Marya Kozik.

Officials saw the need for the post when the previous director, Michael Nuvallie, retired after 38 years in mid-2025, said Mayor Jennifer Macksey.

Macksey added the position into the fiscal 2026 budget with a salary of $63,583, and the City Council enthusiastically supported it. When the planner position is filled, the office will have four staff members including Kozik, Projects Coordinator William Shanahan, and Nuvallie, who is serving as a part-time development specialist.

Kozik said that after narrowing down about a dozen applications, officials were torn between two qualified candidates. They ultimately chose a candidate who had experience, an advanced degree and great examples of work, she said.

“And then they said they were not able to take the job,” she said.

Macksey suspected it was “the whole moving thing,” as the role would have required the candidate to relocate.

The city went back to some of the previous qualified applicants, Kozik said, but many had already been hired elsewhere.

In the application’s job description, it lists the responsibilities of contributing to development of policies, plans, studies, identifying possible grant-funding and managing the city’s Community Development Block Grant program.

Kozik envisioned the planner jumping right in on projects like the Route 2 Overpass study. Results were revealed last year that recommended taking the urban renewal-era overpass down and reconfiguring the infrastructure and economic landscape of downtown.

With the affordable housing trust coming online this year, she also anticipated the new planner assisting the trust’s committee in proposals for housing production and the reuse of property. There is also figuring out how to best use the funds to address climate change impacts through the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant.

“Those are going to be priority projects that I'm looking to, in a sense, hand off to that person,” she said. “Of course, we’ll talk about as a team as to whose talents are best where.”

The person also would be community-facing, Kozik said, partnering with groups to develop citizen-led initiatives.

With more hands on deck, she also hoped the office would have more capacity to eventually bring back popular programs.

“Maybe we weren't doing the home loan modification program or some of these things that people have been clamoring for, and they remember [Nuvallie] sitting down with them and working through it,” she said. “That was a long time ago in a different time with a different staff. So, we'd like to see some of those things come back.”

Kozik said the biggest challenge is finding people with municipal experience. Officials also are looking for someone with a degree in public policy, urban planning or community development with a strong project management background.

Beyond the technical skills, the planner also needs strong communication and writing skills, she said, "because of grant writing and especially communication with the public.”

“I’m not sure how much people understand that [community development] works with all departments,” she said. “We want this person to ultimately be an expert.”

Macksey said is sensitive to the need to get the right person in the position, “not just someone with a pulse.”

“This position is very much needed not only to build out my administration, but to also listen to and address the call of the citizens,” she said.

Officials also want someone who wants to stay here — not necessarily for 38 years like Nuvallie served — noting there is certainly opportunity to make the job part of their career.

“It’s also a fit thing,” Kozik said.

Since reopening the application, she said she has had a few interviews that were promising.

“Were just going to keep on moving and look for another candidate,” Macksey said.