Date: Fri 27-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

health-Purches-environmental

Full Text:

Environmental Health Director Resigns

The board of the Newtown Health District Monday accepted, with regret, the

resignation of Kathleen M. Purches, director of environmental health,

effective Friday, September 27.

Mrs Purches, who was hired February 5 to fill the newly created position,

submitted her resignation because her husband has had a job transfer to

Georgia.

"I think she's been doing a super job," board chairman Jim Smith said, after

announcing the resignation. "It's unfortunate that she's leaving."

Health Director Mark A.R. Cooper said Mrs Purches had reviewed, and rewritten,

many of the district's policies and procedures in the eight months she has

been here.

"I don't feel we will be going backwards with her resignation - we'll continue

to move ahead," he said.

Mrs Purches, who came to Newtown from the Greenwich Health Department, where

she had been environmental health supervisor for four years, held a master's

degree in public health from New York Medical College and was a registered

sanitarian.

The Newtown position of director of environmental health, which has a salary

range of $32,654 to $48,982, was created in a reorganization of the district

staff. At the time, Mr Cooper said the position was needed because of

increasing demands due to the local residential building boom, the increasing

number of food establishments, construction of the town's new sewer system,

expansion of public health services and environmental problems which have

caused the contamination of some private wells.

The requirements for the position include a four-year undergraduate degree in

biological and/or related environmental studies and a minimum of five years'

experience in environmental health, two of which have been in a supervisory

capacity. A master's degree in public health, environmental science or related

studies is preferred. The candidate must be a registered sanitarian.

The health district staff is responsible for environmental services involving

septic systems, wells, soil testing and plan reviews. The staff inspects and

monitors such public and private facilities as restaurants, schools, day care

centers, licensed group homes and town pools for compliance with the public

health code. It also provides, or contracts for, community health services

involving wellness and infectious diseases.