Impasse Looming Over Hiring Of New Medical Chief

The Board of Commissioners and the county Board of Health appear to be headed for an impasse over the hiring of a new county health director. While the Board of Health has the statutory power to name the new director, the commissioners have told board members that should a candidate be selected who does not meet with the commissioners' approval, funds for the health director's salary may be reduced r cut by the board. The differences inopinion became obvious Wednesday night when Cmsr. Kathleen Fojtik, D-Ann Arbor, presented a resolution prepared in an executive session of the Health Committee Tuesday night regarding the hiring and search for a new health director. The committee had interviewed Dr John Atwater, currently health director' in New Haven, Conn., who was invited to Washtenaw County this week to interview for the health director's position The resolution prepared by the committee, while not voicing opposition to Dr. Atwater specifically, requested the Board of Health present at least three more candidates for the post to the committee and added "That the Board of Commissioners considers it unadvisable that a health director be appointed at this time." Adoption of the resolution, which eventually carne along party lines, was posed by Cmsr. Bent F. Nielsen, R-Ann Arbor, who is also the chairman of the county Board of Health. Nielsen said the Board of Health was requesting a meeting with the Health i Committee in executive session before March 1 to discuss the hiring of a new health director. ; Nielsen said the Board of Health had s ...„ not made any decisión about hiring Dr. Atwater. Bijt it appears that the Board of Health has been impressed by Dr. Atwater in interviews. , "We have an outstanding candidate here," Nielsen said. "He has been highly recommended by the School of Public Health at the University and has been recommended by the state Board of Health. It's not often you find a candidate with these credentials." The commissioners agreed to the executive session on March 1 at 10 a.m. with the stipulation that should an passé between the two groups develop, the differences of opinión would be aired in open session. The third portion of the resolution, which stated the county should consider hiring an interim director for a span of two to five years, also brought strong opposition from Nielsen. The resolution presented by the Health Committee stated an interim director would need "at least a master's degree in public health" to do the job but made no mention of a medical degree.