Salem closer to health department restoration

By D.a. Wilkinson

The auditor said the former health commissioner gave excuses for not meeting the contract.

SALEM — The city is moving closer to restarting its health department.

Mayor Jerry Wolford on Tuesday named his picks to the new five-member health board and their staggered terms.

They are:

UJudy Sicilia, who formerly worked for Salem Community Hospital in various positions, a five-year term.

UNewt McKnight, who has worked with environmental issues, four years.

UCami Jackson, who works at Giant Eagle and handles food safety issues, three years.

URussell Loudon, a funeral director, two years.

UBill Wilkins, a retired minister who runs a youth camp, one year.

The city had run its own health department for years but was losing money. It decided to let the Columbiana County Health Department take over operations.

The city’s 10-year contract with the county expires May 31.

City Auditor James Armeni proposed that the city restart its program to better serve its citizens.

Armeni said that he had researched the health agreement between the city and the county and discovered that the county was not performing all its duties.

“We’ve been paying, but we weren’t getting,” Armeni said.

Armeni told council that Robert Morehead, the former county health commissioner, “always gave me some excuse” why that agency was not doing what was required under the agreement.

Armeni said the county health department increased its costs by 3 percent every other year to handle Salem residents.

Morehead was sentenced last Friday to 60 days in a low-security jail for theft in office.

Armeni has estimated $100,000 would be generated from fees taken in by a new city health department. But the cost estimates could go slightly higher.

Councilman Clyde Brown asked whether it was wise to restart the city department because of the poor national economy.

During the meeting, Wolford announced he had been notified that Salem Label Co. Inc., 1472 Salem Parkway, would be closing as of April 17. Some 85 jobs would be affected, he said.

Councilman Earl A. Schory II said that even though restarting the city department was under way, the issue had not formally gone before council. Officials decided to have a meeting of the whole to discuss the move.

wilkinson@vindy.com