Health District Talks Return in Westbrook, CT

WESTBROOK - A proposal for the town to join the Connecticut River Area Health District has recently been put on hold, yet again, for further review.

Considerable discussion occurred at the Dec. 20 Board of Selectmen meeting prompting the selectmen to request the Ad Hoc Health District Committee to update their report.

Chairman Dr. Jeff Bernstein, currently the town's part-time health director, said the ad-hoc committee began its work in November 2006 after being created by former First Selectman John Raffa.

The committee consists of Bernstein, Lee Archer, Sally Greaves, Carole Ketelsen, Deborah Lovelette, and Marilyn Ozols.

Bernstein said a report was submitted to the Board of Selectmen in April 2007 but that "there were a lot of issues the town was dealing with and it was recommended that the body of that work be put on the back burner."

With new leadership in place after the sudden death of Raffa, Bernstein hopes the committee can "move forward and discuss whether this is appropriate for the town."

In that report, Bernstein and Archer voted against the district, Ketelsen and Greaves voted for the district with conditions, and Ozols and Lovelette voted in favor of the district.

Those who voted with conditions wanted a specific clause in a contract or memorandum of understanding that would guarantee the independence of the Westbrook Visiting Nurse Association, VNA.

Judy Wren told committee members at a Mar. 30, 2007 meeting that she worked as a sanitarian at Waterford, a town that joined a regional health district.

Wren noted that advantages to joining the district are that the town always has coverage, more programs are available, and the town can tap into state grant money.

Disadvantages, Wren said, are loss of local control over the budget, personnel, and regulations, possible loss of an office unless the district sets up a satellite office, increased restaurant fees, and that businesses have to go through a longer process to get permits.

Wren explained that Trumbull was able to keep their VNA by not incorporating it into their regional health district.

Deep River First Selectman Richard Smith admitted during a Jan. 16, 2007 meeting that during most of his tenure, he was against joining a health district.

During the last several years, Smith said, the town had increasingly difficulty in finding part-time employees for the department.

The town's health department struggled to find personnel to do the duties of a health director, food inspector, and sanitarian.

While the town contemplated having full-time staff, even surrounding towns that had a full-time health department had a hard time finding staff, Smith said.

These difficulties have risen over time because of increasing state mandates making the job much more complicated and requiring increasing amounts of expertise.

Like Westbrook, Deep River had its own VNA.

Smith said Connecticut River Area Health District Director Mary Jane Engle understands the important role VNA's play and that part of the district's budget goes toward the expertise they provide the district.

Engle is willing to work with multiple VNA's, Smith said.

Essex First Selectman Phil Miller came before the committee on Jan. 25, 2007 explaining why his town has opted not to join the district, at this time, for several reasons.

Miller said there is opposition from some on the town's volunteer fire and ambulance departments since they already participate in mutual aid and fear that joining the district would take away from their autonomy.

Miller told committee members that towns deciding to be a part of a district must sign a two-year commitment but could opt out by giving six months notice.
Today, the Connecticut River Area Health District serves the Towns of Old Saybrook, Clinton, and Deep River.

It is expected that the district would hire additional staff if Westbrook joined the district.

Bishop expects the Ad Hoc committee to present an updated report to the Board of Selectmen with the pros and cons of joining the district no later than Mar. 30.