SHARON — Following a public hearing that explored multiple concerns, residents unanimously voted during a town meeting on Wednesday, April 5 to have the town become a member of the Housatonic Valley Health District (HVHD). The vote was unanimous.
Selectman Dale Jones was elected to serve as moderator for the town meeting.
“We’re transitioning from what we have done for decades,” First Selectman Brent Colley said as he opened the public hearing portion of the evening. “We have dealt with everything by ourselves for decades,” he added, noting that the selectmen had considered other options, including the services of the Torrington Area Health District.
The burgeoning pressures of the responsibilities of the local health department and the impending resignations of both Michael Crespan, Director of Health, and Jamie Casey, Sanitarian, made the change necessary. Commenting at the public hearing, Jones reported that Crespan had recommended the move to the HVHD. Crespan serves as a volunteer member of the HVHD board.
“It’s time,” said Jones, in view of looming state policies that will place greater demands on health officials.
Jones said that he favored the move because of the local endorsements and because the FVHD is made up of a smaller number of towns than other health districts.
Selectman Casey Flanagan noted that the town has been meeting mandated requirements in-house for years, but additional requirements are coming. In association with the HVHD, he said that the town’s records will be maintained in the local town hall under the HVHD’s decentralized records system. Each member town can retain its own records, which Flanagan sees as a key advantage to Sharon.
Under the new system, the town will have a sanitarian for a half-day each week, but by having the records in the town hall office, people will be able to consult with staff and be well prepared to meet with the sanitarian, Flanagan explained.
Once the new arrangement starts, the town can back away after the initial membership period, if it wishes, Flanagan added.
Sanitarian Casey served for decades, but at the public hearing, she explained that in 2010 the state stipulated that sanitarians would need to earn a degree in health.
Residents expressed concerns about the HVHD’s fee structure and reports of unsatisfactory responsiveness to requests. Some would have favored more information about the services of the Torrington Health District, a larger group of towns.
Others felt rushed to make the decision, although the selectmen recalled that Crespan had presented a report at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting in February.
Based on Sharon’s population figures, the HVHD per capita fee will be $10.10, or a total of about $30,000.
Jones noted that the total carries a lower budget impact than the costs for the expiring town health department.
