43
Six applications were received/three candidates were interviewed
YOUNGSTOWN
Erin Bishop was reappointed administrator and acting health commissioner of the Youngstown Department of Health by a 4-1 vote at a special health board meeting Monday.
Voting in favor of the motion to reappoint Bishop were Dr. Douglas D. Lewis, president pro-tem; JoAnn Blunt; Christine Silvestri, and the Rev. Lewis Macklin. The dissenting vote was cast by Artis Gillam Sr., who said Bishop “is not strong enough.”
Mayor Charles P. Sammarone, board president, was present when the meeting was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., but had to leave for another meeting when it did not start on time, saying he would be available if his vote was needed.
Bishop said she is “thrilled” with the outcome of the vote which “reaffirms the board’s confidence in me and allows me to continue to serve Youngstown and its residents.”
The annual salary for the dual position is $71,659, according to the city finance department. The appointment is effective immediately.
The board received six applications for the position and reduced the number of candidates to three at its October meeting.
Besides Bishop, the candidates interviewed for the position were Felicia Alexander, director of the Youngstown Office of Minority Health since 2008; and Dr. Joshua Morton of Niles, field event manager for Health Fitness Corp. since 2009.
Bishop said she was born and raised in Youngstown and received her master’s degree in public health from Youngstown State University.
She said being reappointed to the position enables her to continue doing “what I loved in the city I love.”
Bishop said she looks forward to working with Youngstown mayor-elect John McNally, who as mayor will be president of the board of health.
She said she does not know McNally’s position on consolidation with the Mahoning County Health Department, which has been under discussion for a couple of years.
Bishop was appointed to the health board July 1, 2008, filling an unexpired term. She resigned from the board Feb. 7, 2011, to take the position of health administrator effective Feb. 9, 2011. She subsequently also was named acting health commissioner.