MIDDLEBORO — Josephine Ruthwicz, who has been serving as the Middleboro Housing Authority’s Interim Executive Director without a formal contract, finally has a written contract — pending approval from a state agency.

At the housing authority’s board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, a written contract for Ruthwicz was approved by the board.

After the contract of Maria Mederios, the previous executive director for the authority, was bought out by the board in December of 2023, Ruthwicz agreed to take on the role temporarily. Ruthwicz previously served as the executive director until she retired in 2022.

Her new contract spans from Nov. 28, 2023 until May 27, 2024. The board plans to search for a new executive director to fill the position full-time.

According to the contract, Ruthwicz will work anywhere between five and 20 hours per week and be paid $100 per hour.

Ruthwicz said she only anticipates working until the end of March.

Board member Nancy Thomas abstained from voting, while the other members voted to approve the contract.

Upon the board’s signing of the contract, it will go to the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development for approval.

“There is no guarantee that this will be approved by the state,” said Thomas. “We will just have to wait and see.”

“The board can sign a contract whether DHCD approves it or not,” said Ruthwicz.