Letter to the Editor: BOH President Touts Health Dept. on Shared Services

To the Editor:

There has been increasing discussion lately about the need for and benefits of sharing services among municipalities.  On behalf of the Westfield Board of Health, I want to clarify how we have addressed this.

Currently, seven neighbor communities – including Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield and Summit – have joined Westfield to fund and maintain the.  This arrangement has been in place for years.  Jointly, we share staff and services to assist each of us to meet the public health needs of our residents and the requirements of the State.

The Westfield Board of Health is the lead board; for example, we propose the budget for the department and hire the health officer.  However, each of the other Boards of Health provides critical support for the department’s functions.  In this way, under the able leadership of our Health Officer, Megan Avallone, RN, MPH, we are able to provide appropriate and necessary public health services in a cost-effective manner.  Additional information about these services is available at www.westfieldnj.gov/health

Lawrence D. Budnick, MD, MPH

President, Westfield Board of Health