Date: Fri 08-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

health-environmental-officer

Full Text:

District To Hire Environmental Health Officer

In an effort to keep from falling behind on inspections, the local health

district board this week authorized the employment of a part-time assistant

sanitarian on an "as needed" basis.

The board of the Newtown District Department of Health authorized Health

Director Mark A.R. Cooper to hire a part-time sanitarian until a vacancy in

the department can be filled. The health district has been advertising for a

director of environmental health to replace the sanitarian who resigned

recently to work for another health district closer to her home.

"This is still the prime building season with foundations going in before

winter sets in, so there are a lot of inspections that have to be done," Mr

Cooper explained. "We are short one person in the department and some of our

employees are taking vacations now because if they don't, they will lose those

days."

Mr Cooper also said that one employee will be attending a three-day seminar on

restaurant plan review and another will attend two days of the seminar.

"This is a very important seminar that was offered last five years ago," Mr

Cooper said. "Our personnel need to attend it."

The salary that is being saved because of the unfilled position will be used

to pay the part-time sanitarian, he said.

Mr Cooper said there have been several responses to the advertisement for the

position of director of environmental health, a position which he held prior

to being promoted to full-time health director in 1993. The deadline for

employment applications is Friday, December 8. The salary range for the

position is $32,654 to $48,982. The sanitarian who left was paid approximately

$35,000.

Mr Cooper said the position will involve a restructuring of positions in the

department, not an increase in staff. Besides Mr Cooper, the health district

currently has four employee positions: two assistant sanitarians, a

sanitarian-trainee and a secretary.

Health district employees are responsible for environmental services involving

septic systems, wells, soil testing and plan reveiws. They also inspect and

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

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

health codes.