In First Meeting Following Election, Health Department Board Members Pleased With Department’s Direction

April election winners Jeannette Roth Wood and Jim Brumfield were sworn in as members of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department board by County Clerk Sue Wolk at the start of the April 22 health board meeting.

Carl Kinsky, who is beginning his first elected term after being appointed to the board earlier in the year, was unable to attend.

Wolk said she would swear him in later.

Wood, who also had been appointed prior to the April election, and Brumfield were the top vote-getters in a four-person race for two seats serving four-year terms. Kinsky was the sole candidate to fill out a two-year term for the seat to which he was appointed.

The board heard executive director Sandra Bell’s monthly report, updated the new members on the cracking issue with the health department building foundation, and discussed the complicated issue of dealing with any  department employees who might obtain prescriptions for legalized medical marijuana.

A short discussion on the board’s future direction and goals also took place.

After a winter of controversy, in which board members David Woods and Susie Bach resigned and questions were raised about possible Sunshine Law violations and an alleged attempt to  get rid of Bell as director, the first meeting with the new members went smoothly.

The only moment of tension came during the election of officers. Dr. Mathew Bosner nominated Robert Bach to continue as president.

After a second and a voice vote, Robert Bach started to move on to nominations for vice president.

“I voted no,” Brumfield pointed out. “I’m not in favor.”

It was duly noted that the vote for Robert Bach was 2-1. Bosner was the voted vice president and Wood secretary, both by 3-0 votes.

See complete story in the May 1 edition of the Herald.