By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN Former Mayor Amy Aughenbaugh is the new executive director of the borough Housing Authority.
Ms. Aughenbaugh, who began as deputy director in January 2006, was promoted March 1. She succeeds longtime Executive Director Mary Maccagnan, who retired Feb. 28.
"I’m looking forward to the challenge," said Ms. Aughenbaugh, who served as mayor from 1999 to 2002. "I’m looking forward to doing shared services with other housing authorities across New Jersey."
In her new role, Ms. Aughenbaugh will supervise four employees. The authority oversees 100 rental units at the Hightstown Homes site at Rogers and Academy streets.
Seventy of the units are home to low-income families, 24 are home to low-income seniors and six are for the disabled, Ms. Aughenbaugh explained, while adding that all the units are filled and there is a two-to-three-year waiting list.
Ernest Thompson, chairman of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, said a search committee of the board recommended Ms. Aughenbaugh to the full board after looking at applications from seven people.
"All of them were good," he said. "We figured we had the best one sitting right here in the office."
"She’s local, she was mayor, she still lives in Hightstown and she has the right experience," he added. "She just fit in."
Mr. Thompson refused to say how much Ms. Aughenbaugh will be paid. The position is federally funded.
He said Ms. Maccagnan served as executive director for more than 20 years.

