Health district hires part-time epidemiologist

  • By Nick Sabo
  • May 20, 2011
  • 311
                        
The Holmes County Health District has opted for a part-time epidemiologist in what had been a full-time position. Health Commissioner Dr. D.J. McFadden informed the Holmes County board of health Friday, May 20, that Orrville native Matt Falb has been hired to replace epidemiologist Vaughn Anderson. Falb will start with the health district at 20 hours per week, and will also work four hours per week with the Wayne County health district. McFadden said the hours were scaled back by focusing the position on epidemiology only. “There are two reasons; one, because I think the job can be done part time (and two) because we were adding duties to (Anderson’s schedule),” McFadden said. “Falb brings some different skills to the position but he needs to be part time.” McFadden said Falb has expressed an interest in devoting more time to his family’s farm. Falb has experience working in epidemiology in health districts in New Mexico, Florida and Oklahoma. Anderson left the health district to take a job in environmental health with Wayne County, McFadden said. In other business, the board voted to drop a policy that allowed the district to seek penalties for food service operators who made changes to their establishments without first consulting the health board. McFadden said a review of district policies by the Ohio Department of Health resulted in a recommendation to drop the policy. The policy was found to be above the health district’s authority as it did not involve the legal process. “We tried to explain to ODH it is not our intent to arbitrarily seek fees,” McFadden said. “It was to streamline the process and keep it out of the courts.” The policy was passed in 2007 and has only been used once, McFadden said. According to environmental health director Jon Croup, a $50 fine was levied against a business in January 2010. The business was fined after it started construction without seeking prior plan approval from the health district. The board voted to refund the fine, which was paid Jan. 16, 2010. Without the policy, the board may call businesses in for a hearing to establish a consent agreement that corrects the violation. If negotiations fail, the board will need to present the violation to the prosecuting attorney for further action, McFadden said. The next meeting of the Holmes County board of health will be held June 17.


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