Jefferson Named Huntington Community Development Director

The Huntington Town Board, sitting as the Town’s Community Development Agency, voted January 23 to appoint Leah-Michelle Jefferson as the agency’s director.

In a resolution sponsored by Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who serves as the agency’s chair, the board selected Ms. Jefferson, who has served for the past five years as Brookhaven Town’s deputy commissioner of housing and human services. In that role, she performed functions similar to the Huntington community development director, including preparing applications for federal Community Development Block Grant programs and overseeing Brookhaven’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, which provides affordable housing for more than 990 families.

 Ms. Jefferson has also served as Long Island regional advocacy director for the American Cancer Society and Long Island regional director for the State Division of Human Rights, among other posts. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Stony Brook University.

She will replace Joan Cergol, who recently was named to the Town Board and who voted for Ms. Jefferson’s appointment.

“I am really excited about Leah joining our Huntington team and look forward to working with her on many housing and economic development projects,” Supervisor Lupinacci said. “She brings to the job years of experience in government and in working to assist individuals who rely on government to meet basic needs.”

 Ms. Jefferson is expected to begin serving on February 9, 2018.