SoNoCC names new director; Maggio joins board

Updated, 6:31 p.m., board meeting was Friday.  

NORWALK, Conn. – A new director has been named for the South Norwalk Community Center, as well as a new board member.

Kelly J. Robertson, M.Ed has been appointed as the new interim Executive Director, SoNoCC board Chairman Ed Camacho said in an email. Councilwoman Michelle Maggio (R-District C) has joined the SoNoCC board, he said.

The announcement comes one week after former interim Executive Director Pat Ferrandino was fired by the board. Ferrandino had replaced his wife, Marina Forero Ferrandino, who served as executive director for more than a year before being dismissed by the board. Both were volunteers.

Robertson will work 15-20 hours a week for about 90 days, through the expected period of construction as renovations are done on the center to make it suitable for the Norwalk Public Schools After the Bell program, Camacho said. She will be paid about $2,000. At the end of the contract the board will revisit the issue to determine if she will be kept on, and try to come up with the resources to make that happen.

“She’s a wonderful woman, well-qualified, we’d like to keep her on if things go well and I expect they will,” Camacho said.

The appointment was made at a special board meeting Friday, he said.

“Ms. Robertson has extensive community service experience, including in the area case management, disaster relief, human resources, counseling, mental health, child protective services, and community organizing, as well as in financing, marketing, and fundraising,” Camacho wrote in his email. “She has worked in the towns of Greenwich and Stamford, and with both School Districts.  Ms. Robertson was a professor at the University of Connecticut, holds an Associate’s Degree in Arts and Sciences from Allegheny County Community College, a BA in Sociology/Psychology and a Masters of Education in Community Counseling from Duquesne University, and has pursued a Doctor of Psychology Degree from California Graduate Institute.  She has also been a member of the Connecticut State Department of Education Review Committee, and has a certification as a Guidance Counselor.”

Maggio is serves as chairwoman of the council’s Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee and is the owner of Mike’s Deli.

“We need to move forward,” Camacho said. “We need to put a face on the organization, a more diverse face, as well as perspective.”

The South Norwalk Community Center will undergo phased renovations this summer, but will continue to offer community services, including case management, dance and music classes, and AA and various other meetings, Camacho said. The multipurpose room will continue to be available for rental.

(Correction: Ed Camacho originally said he thought the board meeting was Saturday. He corrected himself to say it was Friday.)