By William K. Alcorn

alcorn@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

As Youngstown City and the Mahoning County District boards of health move toward a decision on merging health departments, nearby Summit County recently went through a similar consolidation that it calls a success.

Matthew Stefanak, Mahoning County health commissioner, said a report answering questions was presented to the Mahoning County Township Association and produced an encouraging reaction. These questions included the difference between merging and contracting between districts, the quality of services affected, cost savings and potential job losses.

Other issues addressed in the report, prepared by city and county health officials, include reconciling pay and benefits differences; facilities locations and how to finance the combined district.

Stefanak said he would suggest to the county health board’s governing body, the General Health District Advisory Council, that it take action. That council has its annual meeting in March.

He said he considered the feedback from the trustees a step forward in the process and communicated the trustees’ response to Youngstown Mayor Charles P. Sammarone and Acting City Health District Commissioner Erin Bishop.

Those issues and others had to be answered in merging Akron and Barberton city health districts and Akron County Health District, said Gene Nixon, health commissioner.

Mahoning and Summit counties share several similarities.

Youngstown is a charter city, as are Akron and Barberton.

When Campbell joined the MCDBH, the city’s charter required that the matter be placed on the ballot.

However, combining Akron, Barberton and Summit County did not require a vote because Akron formed a Health Commission, and Barberton retained its Board of Health. Those organizations represent their respective cities in contracting with Summit County Public Health for public health services, Nixon said.

Nixon said Akron merged with Summit County, and Barberton joined the combined health district in two independent processes.

Though Summit County Public Health, the new name of Summit County Department of Health, has full authority for all public health services, it meets regularly with the Akron and Barberton organizations and reports back to them.

Before implementing Summit County Public Health on Jan. 1, 2011, the entities involved contracted with The Center for Community Solutions for a consolidation feasibility study.

“I think it would be prudent to hire an expert consultant to do a feasibility study to help us answer questions that we might not anticipate,” Stefanak said.

Nixon said the feasibility study was very helpful.

“The process is unique to each community, and we found it good because it was not driven by either partner,” he said.

After the partners agree that consolidation is feasible is when the real work begins, Nixon said.

The makeup of the governing board, finances, personnel issues and others have to be resolved, he said.

In anticipation of consolidation effective Jan. 1, 2011, the county and city health departments did not replace personnel lost through attrition until after the merger when needs could be determined better.

Also, a parallel set of financial books were kept to demonstrate how much money is returned to the entities in services provided, and how much money goes to the district as a whole.

“The finance team has demonstrated that pretty well. It gives great comfort to those involved,” Nixon said.

“The consolidation has gone surprisingly well. There have been some hick-ups along the way, but in terms of employees and serving folks and being accessible and available, we are meeting our goals,” he said.

During the first year, the consolidated health district developed a comprehensive strategic plan, gave itself a new name, Summit County Public Health, and consolidated the vital statistics office into one location.

Nixon said the feedback from political leaders and from Barberton, which was concerned about losing local services, has been favorable, and resulting efficiencies created savings “right off the bat.”