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Top-heavy administration harming SJBHD

Concerns brought forth by Rita Fowler (Letters, Herald, Dec. 14 and Jan. 20) and echoed by past health department employees speak to the crux of the problem at the health department – namely absence of open communication, lack of teamwork and loss of trust and respect between administration and staff.

This has significant implications for our community.

When employees feel they are not valued, trusted or respected, morale plummets and staff turnover skyrockets. Of approximately 190 staff employed by the department in early 2010, only 11 remain. The damage caused by this loss of experience and expertise is immeasurable.

Without communication, trust and respect for program staff – and in spite of eliminating several programs – the administration’s reaction has been to increase supervision, add layers of management and even hire a costly attorney who unnecessarily oversees routine board meetings and basic functions of the department.

There is simply not enough money to sustain this top-heavy administrative structure and still be responsive to the community.

Approximately 16 percent of the department’s budget – taxpayer dollars – is not restricted to specific programs, but rather is available for addressing current community needs, filling program gaps and helping cover costs associated with day-to-day public-health responsibilities.

In the past, this discretionary fund was utilized to initiate low-income family planning, develop methamphetamine prevention and quickly respond to the H1N1 flu, all services maintained long term through outside sources.

It was also used to sustain valuable community health programs, many of which have now been discontinued.

When this money is completely consumed paying for administration – and even more is taken away from programs – there is nothing left for community health.

San Juan Basin Health is your health department. Board of Health members are your representatives in advocating for the community’s health. The current structure and culture was established and is promoted by this board using your tax dollars.

If this is not how you believe your tax dollars should be spent or how the needs of your community should be addressed, please share your concerns with board members or the county commissioners who appoint them.

Lynn Westberg

Durango

Editor’s note: Lynn Westberg was director of the San Juan Basin Health Department from January 1986 to February 2010.



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