There are two new faces on the Wareham Housing Authority Board of Directors and one empty chair still to be filled.

The Housing Authority’s primary role is to operate the Agawam Village and Redwood Park housing complexes for Wareham senior citizens and disabled adults.

In the course of a tumultuous 2013, board members Paul Innis, Donald Hall and Martin Benoit left. Although those leaving cited a variety of reasons, all the departures came in close proximity to long-time Executive Director Pamela Sequeira’s abrupt retirement and receipt of a state report that presented a long list of management and financial irregularities at the Authority.

The Authority board is a hybrid of four members elected by Wareham voters and one appointed by the governor of Massachusetts.

New to the board are Onset architect William Lockwood and Rudy Santos, an active community member.

In October, selectmen appointed Lockwood to fill Hall’s unexpired term on the board.

Similarly, selectmen appointed Wareham resident Santos to fill Benoit’s unexpired term in July, 2013. Santos volunteered his efforts to help the Guyon Rescue and planning the town’s recognition ceremonies for the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, among other local causes.

Remaining on the board are elected members Robert Powilatis and Donna Barros.

Before working for the Authority, Powilatis served as the First Deputy State Auditor, retiring from the position in 2002. He stayed on as a consultant to the office until 2010. Before moving to Wareham in 2010, he served on the Holbrook Board of Selectmen, Board of Assessors and the Housing Authority. He ran unopposed for a five-year term on the Housing Authority in the 2013 Town Election.

According to Town Clerk Mary Ann Silva, Barros attempted to resign a few weeks ago. However, the paperwork was not properly completed and has not been accepted by the Town Clerk’s Office.

Moving forward:

Still to be filled is the state-appointee slot vacated by Innis. Former Finance Committee Chair Donna Bronk was recommended to the governor by Selectmen in August, but no appointment has yet been announced.

“The Governor’s office receives thousands of nominations a year for individuals seeking appointments to various boards and commissions,” said Jesse Mermell, communications director in the office of the Governor. “We understand that important work depends on these positions being filled, and we process nominations and make appointments as quickly as possible.”

“A background check alone can take an average of two months – longer if issues come up with a check,” Mermell added.

Mermell further added that “there were multiple people nominated for the Wareham Housing Authority position.”

The look of the board may change even more as Lockwood, Santos and Barros have terms up for reelection in April.