The retirement announcement of Carroll County Health Officer Larry Leitch has left the Board of County Commissioners with another position to fill months before a new board takes office.
The board voted 4-0 Thursday to adopt a resolution that begins the process of hiring a new health officer. Commissioner Haven Shoemaker, R-District 2, did not attend the meeting and could not vote on the resolution.
The health officer is in charge of the operations of the Carroll County Health Department, a state agency that receives funding from both the state and county. Leitch announced recently that he will retire from his position at the end of the year.
Ted Zaleski, acting chief of staff, said the county will advertise for the position, interview candidates and make a recommendation to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The state department will make the final decision.
The commissioners discussed the idea of waiting until the new Board of County Commissioners takes office in December before choosing a new health officer candidate.
Commissioner Doug Howard, R-District 5, said he wants the new board to choose the health officer candidate that will be sent to the state for approval. Howard, who is the only candidate on the general election ballot in his district, is likely to serve on the next Board of County Commissioners.
Commissioner Richard Rothschild, R-District 4, said it has taken the current board up to six months to find and choose a candidate for high-level positions like the health officer. Rothschild, who is also the only candidate on the November ballot for his district, said the current board should start the process.
The new board may or may not have the chance to choose the next health officer, depending on the advertising and interviewing process, Rothschild said.
Zaleski suggested the board make a five-person panel to do the interviewing of health officer candidates. Once the first rounds of interviews are done, the commissioners could meet with the finalists and choose the candidate, he said.
Commissioner Dave Roush, R-District 3, said he wanted to wait until candidates apply to see if a culling process by a panel is necessary.
The commissioners asked staff for more information to learn more about the position, job description and candidates in the future.
Reach staff writer Christian Alexandersen at 410-857-7873 or christian.alexandersen@carrollcountytimes.com.
