County Board of Health
Could be Changing
By Rebecca Osterberg
Since Boone County Board Representative Bob Walberg
(District 1) was appointed chairman, he has expressed his
own style and interpretation of various functions of the
office.
Walberg began the Wednesday night meeting of the
board with appointments to vacancies on county committees
and boards, including: the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA);
Boone County Historical Museum District Board; the
Community Building Complex of Boone County; Boone
County Conservation District; the Boone County Board of
Ethics; and the Boone County Board of Public Health.
Illinois law allows Walberg to appoint his choice to fill
vacancies with the “consent and approval” of the remaining
board members. Walberg has been known to keep his
selections private and only reveal his choice at the full county
board meetings when the selections would be approved.
One applicant for the ZBA was Mark Rhode who was
approved, with county Representative Terri Glass (District
3) voting against the recommendation. Three applicants
were presented for one-year terms on the Boone County
Ethics Commission; Lanette M. Walter, RN, Ray Rhoads,
and Gary G.. Turner.
County Representative Peggy Malone (District 3) asked
if Turner was also on the Boone County Board of Health.
Walberg replied that he is and that moved Glass and Malone
to oppose the recommendation of Turner for the position.
Gail Bennett was chosen for a vacancy on the Historical
Museum District Board, Bill Wolf was nominated for a
vacancy on the Boone County Conservation District Board,
and Kenny Freeman and John E. McMorrow, Jr. would
serve on the Community Building of Belvidere Board.
Glass opposed that move.
With that development, more than a little controversy
erupted when nominees to the Boone County Board of
Health were announced.
Over the last year, the Health Department has had to
manage their selection of a director that was later found
to be unqualified to hold the position. The move by the
board was taken after an extravagant dinner and drinks at
an expensive area dining facility outside Boone County in
Rockford.
After that discovery, the county board was forced to
take steps to make the appointment of Stephanie Seaworth,
RN, function. That step involved changing her title to that
of an assistant administrator while allowing her to attain
the proper certifications to officially hold the position of
administrator. For this step to occur, the state required a
mentor. Ray Empereur was hired to serve as administrator,
leaving Seaworth to handle the day-to-day operations of the
Health Department. Seaworth resigned abruptly early this
year with no official reason given for her departure.
Questions at the time from the Boone County Board
Health and Human Services Committee included asking
why a national search was not undertaken.
According to Dr. Kent Hess, president of the Boone
County Board of Health, the health board’s misinterpretation
of state guidelines was a significant factor in believing
Seaworth was qualified to serve as administrator.
Hess and other board members at the time expressed the
belief that the cost of a national search was not worth the
expense.
When Walberg presented Hess’ nomination to the county
board this week, he first asked for a show of hands from those
who would not consider his appointment. Approximately
half of the board members raised their hands, but some
insisted on a roll-call vote.
“I had hoped to be more discreet,” Walberg said. “If I’d
known the board was going to reject the applicant I would
have withdrawn my recommendation.”
One member of the public, Bill Pysson of Belvidere
asked to speak to the action.
“When I saw the appointments on the agenda this
month,” said Pysson, “I asked to see who the applicants
were. I was refused that information when I asked the
administrator. Walberg said that he wasn’t really going to
recommend him. I think everyone knows that there was
some scandal.” Pysson not only felt the board should
seriously consider the nominees, but was also taken aback
at the refusal of information to the public.
“I think as a member of the public, I have a right to know
what is on the agenda before the meeting,” said Pysson.
The vote concluded in the following manner.
The recommendation of Dr. Kent Hess was approved with
county board Representatives Kathy Hartwig (District 1),
Cathy Ward (District 2); Terri Glass, Kenny Freeman and
Pat Mattison (all District 3) opposing the recommendation.
The nomination of Joseph Frost Sr., DVM, and Ronald
Conder, DDS, failed with the same “No” votes and the
addition of Malone voting against.
The nomination of Kathleen Taylor was approved with
Glass, Hartwig and Mattison casting “No” votes.
At the conclusion of the vote, Peggy Malone asked for a
motion to reconsider her recommendation for Dr. Hess. That
motion was seconded by Hartwig. County Representative
Karl Johnson (District 2) asked Boone County State’s
Attorney Michelle Courier if anyone could second or if they
had to have voted affirmatively. Courier said anyone could
second the motion. The vote to reconsider was denied,
with Glass, Hartwig, Mattison, Malone, Ward and Freeman
voting in favor.
It was clear Malone had erred in her understanding
during the first vote and in an interview following the
meeting she stated that was a mistake.
The effect of the vote, according to Walberg, resulted
in his need to appeal once again to the community for
applicants to the Board of Health. The county board is
required to have one dentist as a member.
Bill Hatfield, who now shares the duties as coadministrator
to the county Health Department with Lisa
Gonzalez, was asked in an interview after the meeting
how he felt the appointments would affect the Health
Department.
“It would be nice if the people who have to work at the
Health Department were asked for their input,” Hatfield
said. Hatfield refused to comment on who was selected for
the positions, but reiterated that the board make-up requires
a dentist and that could be difficult to fill.
Anyone interested in the vacant positions that remain on
the county Board of Health may apply at the Boone County
Administrative Campus on Logan Avenue, Belvidere.
The above article is taken from this week’s Boone County Journal available Free across the area and at: http://boonecountyjournal.com/news/2010/Boone-County-News-06-18-10.pdf#page=3
