Vernon Official: Big Picture Focus Needed For Health Chief Post

VERNON, CT — Vernon's town administrator and emergency management director on Wednesday was urging state officials to find a quick., "permament" solution at the top of the public health ladder after the dismissal of the department's chief. He was stressing a big picture focus.

"We are in the midst of a war against a deadly virus," said Vernon Town Administrator and Emergency and Risk Management Director Michael Purcaro, who is also the former chief of staff for the state health department. "We need a battle proven and experienced public health leader."

Purcaro has been at odds with state officials on a few topics since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, namely the endorsement of drive-up voting, which Vernon utilized twice during the local budgetary process. To see the details click here.

A week ago, Gov. Ned Lamont "announced" the abrupt exit of Renee Coleman-Mitchell as commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. Social Services Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford will be taking over until a successor to Coleman-Mitchell is appointed. Gifford is a physician who has an advanced degree in epidemiology/public health. According to state law, the commissioner of public health must be a physician or have an master of public health degree.

In an e-mailed announcement, Lamont played up the appointment of Gifford and offered no officoals reason for Coleman-Mitchell's exit.

Purcaro himself emphasized a larger focus, including the emergency management aspect. Vernon officials and state officials have not necessarily seen eye-to-eye on a number of emergency response issues dating back to the Oct. 11, 2011 blizzard. This time, the recovery was about the virus.

"Public health leaders who respond to crises (such as the current COVID-19 pandemic) require unique leadership traits and skills to enable them to make prudent and effective decisions in resource and data-constrained environments, where faster responses are mandatory to minimize morbidity and mortality as well as economic impact," Purcaro said. "These traits and skills include competence in public health science and emergency management; maintaining situational awareness across multiple disciplines; influencing political, organizational, and individual behaviors; having the courage to drive change; and inspiring trust."

He added, "The overall leadership goal is to create sustainable solutions that benefit the whole community with a focus on assisting the most vulnerable and protecting individual liberties."

Among Purcaro's other qualifications is certification as a Centers for Disease Control emergency risk communications trainer and certification as a Federal Emergency Management Agency public information officer.

Purcaro said FEMA defines the "whole community as individuals and families – including those with "access and functional needs, businesses, faith-based and community organizations, nonprofit groups, schools and academia, media outlets, all levels of government, including state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal partners."