Vote on health services put off

By Katie Farrell
Staff writer

July 14, 2009 03:53 am

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NEWBURYPORT — The City Council again tabled a vote on whether to join into a regional health agreement with Salisbury and Amesbury, saying they want to wait to see how neighboring Amesbury votes.

At-large City Councilor Donna Holaday said last night the city received changes from Amesbury after its Municipal Council ordinance subcommittee made "some clarification changes" or minor wording changes to the document. While the changes are not substantive, it would make sense to wait to allow Amesbury to vote on the document during its monthly meeting tonight and then Newburyport will meet at a later point and do so, rather than having all three communities vote on different versions, Holaday said. Salisbury has already voted to approve the agreement.

Holaday said prior to the meeting that a special meeting could occur as early as next week.

Kendra Amaral, the chief of staff to Amesbury Mayor Thatcher Kezer, attended the council meeting, along with Newburyport health director Jack Morris.

Under the regionalization plan, Morris would take the responsibility of overseeing all administrative tasks associated with the health services — inspection, animal control, public health nurse and administrative backup services for the three communities.

Newburyport would provide services from Morris, Public Health nurse Judy Anderson and an administrative assistant. The city would be compensated for those services by Salisbury and Amesbury, Moak said.

Newburyport and Amesbury would pay Salisbury $8,047 each for animal control services. Amesbury and Salisbury would each pay Newburyport $45,233.