County Health Department choosing new director & reshaping staff
by Jazz Clark
The Morgan County Board of Health decided on a new plan for administration at their meeting on Monday afternoon, September 10.
Though he can only work part-time, proposed director Bill Kerns has already proven himself as
current director of the much larger board in Berkeley County and hopefully can do the same for Morgan.
Kerns has stepped in to help Morgan many times before, and is willing to help on at least a short-term basis. Lately he’s been helping “as needed” with some organization and budgeting in the interim of searching for an administrator.
“He would be responsible for budgets, administering grants, evaluating the financial position of the health department and giving us guidance,” said member Barbara Wolfe.
The plan is to hire him six months, and evaluate at that point whether to create a more permanent plan.
Before anything is set in stone this arrangement will need to be approved by Berkeley County.
“I think we can make it work, at least for a little while,” said Kerns.
The same approval will be needed to bring over Dr. Diana Gaviria, health officer for Berkeley County, to aid Morgan as a health officer.
If Kerns and Gaviria are approved, this will nullify the former plan to bring in former administrator Lee Fowler 20 hours a week as Administrator.
Cathy Delawder, currently secretary, would have her title changed to office manager to have more control over employee and budget issues.
No more information has come to light yet on the resignation of previous administrator Margie Allgyer, as any personnel issues are permitted to be brought into closed, private session under WV law.
Sanford Bienen stepped down as chairman of the board, and a vote was taken about his replacement. There were two nominations – Barbara Wolfe and Jane McCloud.
As McCloud failed to get a second, Wolfe became the newest chairman of the Board of Health. Jane McCloud did, however, get the vice-chair position, which she preferred. There was no opposition to either nomination.
Bienen may resign from the board completely in December, but he will make his decision later.
“I just don’t want to chair anymore,” said Bienen. “I’m looking forward to being a member of the choir.”
