County officials debate selection of new health officer. Here's what they're planning

Livingston County's top officials Monday voted to conduct a search to fill the health officer position that has been vacant since former Health Officer Dianne McCormick retired July 1.

Livingston County commissioners had considered promoting Matt Bolang, who is acting as interim director of the health department. McCormick recommended him to the Board of Commissioners as her replacement.

However, after months of discussion, the board opted Monday night to post the job opening and conduct a broader search. Bolang will be considered for the job after the search is complete, according to a resolution the board passed at the meeting.

The board had placed an option to hire Bolang immediately on the meeting agenda, but no commissioner made a motion to that effect. The board ultimately voted to consider Bolang for the appointment following the external search.

Commissioner Jay Gross made a motion to post the job in two-week increments, starting with two weeks and, if needed, extending it another two weeks after that, which passed with unanimous support of the board.

The job is expected to be posted soon, possibly this week. The county board's personnel committee will work with the county's human resources department to collect resumes for the board and then decide how to proceed.

Bolang has been employed with the county since 2001, working as an environmental specialist and water resources coordinator before becoming the county's director of environmental health in 2014.

He was promoted to a joint position of deputy director and director of environmental health in 2019.

Commissioners acknowledged they may have to ask state health officials to extend Bolang's six-month appointment as interim director if the candidate search and interview process go past the end of December, when his appointment expires. In that scenario, the state health officials would decide whether to extend his appointment.

Other options include the state selecting a coordinator to oversee the department or the state health department taking over management of the health department.

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Commissioner Carol Griffith pointed out the county health officer is responsible for overseeing many public health issues and initiatives, not just pandemic responses, and she believes Bolang is qualified for the broader job responsibilities. Griffith supported posting the job and considering Bolang as a job candidate.

She also pointed out that, while Bolang does not have a medical background, the county employs a medical director who is a physician. McCormick also did not come from a medical background.

Dr. Juan Luis Marquez stepped into his role as a shared medical director, representing both Livingston and Washtenaw counties, in April 2020. Marquez took over for former county medical director Dr. Donald Lawrenchuk who retired.

Residents share opinions

Dozens of county residents spoke Monday and some commissioners urged appointing Bolang outright without an extensive search.

Some residents urged the county to appoint someone different because they object to the health department's handling of COVID-19 related public health directives, including masking and quarantines in schools. They cited reporting businesses to the state that violated COVID-19 mandates, as well as efforts to vaccinate residents.

Several urged the board to find someone who understands "medical freedom," while others went as far as to claim there was a "plandemic."

County resident Janine Iyer spoke to the board during public comments, saying simply hiring Bolang "is not doing your due diligence."

"It's actually a dereliction of duty to not do an exhaustive search" for the most qualified candidate," Iyer said.

Resident Jane Clark urged the board to do an external search for the right candidate, "preferably with a medical background," she said.

Nurse educator Holly Austin argued COVID-19 mandates harmed children, and she held Bolang responsible because he was the county's deputy director during the pandemic. Austin said mandates harmed children academically and she took issue with a previous directive requiring mandatory COVID-19 testing of student athletes.

She said social distancing strategies caused harm, and also feels that children were "coerced" into getting vaccinated against COVID-19, which she referred to as "experimental COVID shots."

Job description and tweaks

Board chairperson Wes Nakagiri said he wants interviews with multiple candidates, including Bolang, to ask questions, including what the county could have done better in response to the pandemic and state mandates, and whether they feel the county did a good job of protecting people's rights.

"How does someone reconcile conflicting information?" Nakagiri said. "I'm anxious to hear from more than one candidate."

Commissioner Doug Helzerman speculated that Bolang supported a broader search.

"My expectation is Matt’s going to be on the top of the heap," Helzerman said.

Griffith was concerned that if Bolang isn't chosen, it could mean other staff changes in the department. She questioned whether Bolang would want to stay under new leadership, and also said the current staff seems to work well with Bolang.

The county board approved the job description in July for a new director.

A portion of the position summary states, "Under the direction of the county administrator, (the health officer) is responsible for the overall function of developing the county’s health programs and overseeing department services and operations."

The summary also states the health officer, "Assures the delivery of public health services in the community per the Michigan Public Health Code and enforces federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to population and environmental health and sanitation."

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health mandates that followed, tweaking the job description sparked discussion about how public health infractions should be handled.

County officials opted for an approach that would focus on civil actions and penalties for violating the health code in lieu of criminal enforcement actions.

If someone violates state public health laws or mandates, it is the county board's "expressed preference" that a civil infraction and appeal process be implemented in lieu of criminal enforcement, according to the approved job description.

Gross voted in July against imposing any penalties.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. 

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: How to choose top health department official debated in Livingston