Housing Office to Housing Authority

     Catherine Casey, who has served for approximately 10 years as the assistant director of East Hampton Town’s Office of Housing and Community Development, has been appointed head of the East Hampton Housing Authority, an autonomous agency that often works with the town to provide affordable housing. She replaces Maureen Murphy, the authority’s longtime director, who has retired.

    Ms. Casey’s appointment leaves the town housing office with three staffers, where it once had six, Tom Ruhle, the housing director, said this week. Ms. Casey had provided mortgage counseling and foreclosure prevention services for town residents, among other duties. In her absence, Mr. Ruhle said, East Hamptoners seeking those services will have to go to agencies in western Suffolk County.

    He said he hoped a replacement for Ms. Casey would be hired. However, he said, with her qualifications and training, “she’s very difficult to replace.”

    “She will make a tremendous addition to the Housing Authority, following in Maureen Murphy’s excellent footsteps,” Mr. Ruhle said.