Raynham's new health director was a baker for 20 years. Here's why she made the move.

RAYNHAM — Raynham has found a new permanent health director.

Selectmen voted Tuesday, Feb. 28, to offer the position and enter into contract negotiations with Paula Rossi-Clapp, currently the health agent for the town of Kingston.  At the Selectmen's March 7 meeting, the Board officially confirmed its contract with her.

Rossi-Clapp will be replacing interim Health Director Alan Perry.

Originally from Plympton, Rossi-Clapp previously owned and ran a bakery in that town for 20 years. She told the board that once her children were off to college, she decided to finish up her degree program she had stalled for so many years. She graduated with a bachelor's of science in health studies and resource management from Bridgewater State University in 2013.

Also that year, she interned for the Halifax Health Department, doing outreach to senior citizens, followed by a brief stint as housing coordinator and case manager for Old Colony Elder Services in Brockton.

Gaining experience working with seniors and the disabled increased her patience level and bettered her communication skills.

“People just want to be heard,” said Rossi-Clapp, adding she learned how to be more humorous to “lighten stressful situations” while also assuring people their issues are being taken seriously.

Her career path led to her work as an adult foster care manager for Kingston from 2013 to 2015. She then became the Council on Aging director for the Acushnet from 2015 to 2017, followed by being director of elder affairs for Kingston from 2017 to 2022.

She became the Kingston health agent in June 2022.

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How the pandemic transformed health departments

Rossi-Clapp said one of the things she witnessed during the pandemic was “the melding of public health to be in line with the traditional health department,” which was mostly about inspections, such as septic systems and restaurants.

She said “it’s now much more community health-oriented” and about “providing a one-stop shop” for services like providing access to medical advice and information, and dealing with environmental health issues.

She explained this evolution of the health department is much closer to her education focus, which was community health.

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'Everything we’ve been looking for'

All three selectmen said they are impressed with Rossi-Clapp’s professional background and experience.

Selectman Patricia Riley was “very impressed” with her managerial experience and background in social services, helping seniors and people who are disabled.  She added that along with Rossi-Clapp’s attitude and personality, “it brings out everything we’ve been looking for.”

Selectman Joe Pacheco said there are “parallels between our community and the communities she’s worked in,” and these similarities are “very relevant to us and what we’re dealing with.”

Chair Richard Schiavo said Raynham is “most in need of the managerial experience she brings to the job” and “at this point in time, Paula is the best fit.”

Rossi-Clapp was one of two finalists interviewed in open meeting on Feb. 21.  The other candidate, Paul Dinwoodie, is an environmental health specialist for the city of Newton.

Regionalization off the table

Prior to finding Rossi-Clapp, the town had unsuccessfully tried to refill the position for a year-and-a-half, after the previous director, Matt Tanis, left in September 2021.

Interim Health Director Alan Perry, who previously served in the position from 1999-2013, came back on a part-time basis in February 2022. Perry is a retired municipal worker with a pension and benefits from the state, but he was allowed by the Commonwealth to come back to work on a limited basis due to the urgency of the matter.

The town has also had difficulties finding a full-time health inspector since spring 2022. The position was temporarily filled by another retired interim health inspector, Deborah Rosati. The town hired a full-time health inspector, Michael Soares, before the end of 2022.

With all the difficulties finding qualified full-time staff to fill the Health Department, Selectmen considered regionalizing the department, sharing health staff, resources, and costs with other neighboring municipalities.

But Schiavo said at the Feb. 21 meeting with the candidate pool increasing, and the recent finding of qualified staff, “the question of regionalization is behind us.”

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Raynham offers health director job to Kingston agent Paula Rossi-Clapp