GREENFIELD — Glenn Ayers' recent swearing-in returns the Board of Health to a full three-member structure, with new faces poised to help “bring the people back to public health.”
Mr. Ayers, 66, was appointed to the board in January and was officially sworn in at City Hall on February 8. Ayers, a longtime public servant with decades of experience in permitting, regulation and other aspects of public health, and more than 10 years as community health officer for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, shares his thoughts. He said he would like to join the board of directors to provide the following. help and expertise.
At the first meeting Thursday night, board members Dr. John Romano and Dr. Carey Mimmitz appointed Mr. Ayers as chairman of the board.
After retiring, Mr. Ayers maintains his Registered Hygienist license and works as a subject matter expert for the Massachusetts Health Officials Association, where he conducts consulting work throughout the state.
“When it comes to public health, we have this baseline. [where] If we can maintain this minimum standard, we should be able to maintain a healthy society. That is the goal of this board,” Ayers said, adding that from his background he understands the wide range of processes and regulations that the board and city must adhere to. “I think bringing that to the boardroom will make a difference.”
One of his top priorities is to help the city find a full-time health director. The city has not had a full-time health director since Jennifer Hoffman resigned, citing “emotional strain” from constant surveillance, harassment and violence. Abuse from the world.
“I'm interested in rebuilding a health department in a city with a population of 17,000 or more. Our residents deserve a professional and well-functioning health department,” Ayers said, adding that the current health department He emphasized that the people working there are doing a good job. “That's what this community needs. Just look around and you'll see.”
In this role, he said he wants to ensure the Department of Health operates based on “evidence-based” practices rather than “politically-based practices.”
“Public health is kind of a special field. It's one of those things that's very important and shouldn't be manipulated,” he said. “We've got a mayor who really says the same thing. We feel we have no problem working with this new administration.”
Beyond his experience as a community health agent, Mr. Ayers has also helped play a key role in Lant Silversmith's ongoing environmental cleanup efforts. He launched his petition and began the process of designating the facility as a Public Involvement Program (PIP) site, and subsequently began an audit of the site's cleanup process.
He said he expressed his concerns to Mayor Ginny Desorgars, who came forward for his appointment, when she was a city council member and quickly became involved.
“In a situation like this, where there is a contaminated site that may be impacting neighboring areas, the health board has an important role to play, but we feel that the health board is not doing anything about it. Mr Ayers said the PIP Group added: We have begun to strengthen our cooperation with the city.
Ayers added that this type of collaboration is what we want to see in many aspects of public health.
“I would really like to see more public involvement, not just in Lunt, but in other issues in town. I really hope we get a good health director with the same approach,” he said. “I'm very interested in getting the public back into public health.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.
