By Katie Farrell Lovett
NEWBURYPORT — With the departure of Health Director Jack Morris last month, city officials are now moving ahead with plans to hire a replacement and look toward the future.
The Board of Health is the sole hiring authority for the health director, although once hired, that person works under the mayor. The full-time position has been advertised and resumes have started to be submitted to the city.
Board of Health Chairman Robin Blair said yesterday the application period ends this week and the board could start the interview process in early December, if they feel there are strong candidates.
The city lost Morris last month in the wake of a vote the City Council took in July to reject a plan to enter into a regional health agreement with Amesbury and Salisbury.
Under that plan, Morris would have had the responsibility of overseeing all administrative tasks associated with health services: inspection, animal control, public health nurse and administrative backup services for all three communities.
Amesbury and Salisbury would have paid a portion of Morris' salary and health insurance, as well as a portion of the health insurance costs for the administrative assistant.
Following Newburyport's vote, Amesbury and Salisbury entered into a joint agreement and offered the position of the health director of the two towns to Morris, who began that role last month.
Newburyport currently has an interim agreement with Morris working part-time in the city until a new director is hired.
Mayor-elect Donna Holaday was one of three city councilors who voted in support of the regionalization plan, along with Ward 3 Councilor James Shanley and Ward 4 Councilor Ed Cameron. The other councilors rejected the plan, saying the costs that Newburyport would bear were too high, and the plan wasn't in the city's best interest financially. Many said they support the concept of regionalization, when the terms are fair for all parties.
"Regionalization is good," Ward 5 Councilor Brian Derrivan said at the time. "It's not good when it's not fair."
"The only problem I had with the regional proposal in front of Newburyport is that it didn't make financial sense to Newburyport," At-large Councilor Tom Jones said last month. "My objection was all financial."
Holaday said yesterday she would like to set up a meeting with the Board of Health to discuss the search process for a new director in the coming weeks.
Holaday said the idea of regionalization is still worth looking at, but noted the concerns of the councilors would need to be addressed.
"Am I open to regionalization? Absolutely," she said. "I supported it last time."
At least two of the city councilors-elect who will also take office in January have stated support for regionalization, as well.
"We have to look at regionalization of capital items and some services," Ward 3 Councilor-elect Bob Cronin wrote in response to an election survey and submitted to The Daily News. "This effort must be fair and equitable to Newburyport and must at minimum maintain current service levels."
Ward 1 Councilor-elect Allison Heartquist also mentioned the issue of regionalization in her response to The Daily News election questions.
"I hope that we can become more efficient by regionalizing many of our government functions or even our departments," she wrote.¬ "For instance, Newburyport has enjoyed improved service and reduced costs as a result of the regional trash and recycling contract with Amesbury.¬ That type of group effort translates well in other departments as well."
Heartquist is the executive assistant for Amesbury Mayor Thatcher Kezer and was previously the secretary for the Amesbury health agent.¬
