With health director leaving, Nieves calls for expert advice
Council president: ‘It is imperative’ Ganim gathers a health advisory group
BRIDGEPORT — The City Council President Thursday called on Mayor Joe Ganim to move quickly to fill a pending leadership vacuum within the health department because of director Lisa Morrissey’s sudden resignation.
The Connecticut Post reported Wednesday on Morrissey’s decision to leave Jan. 15 after less than eight months, and on Thursday New Milford announced she had been hired there for the same role.
Ganim put Tammy Papa, head of the Lighthouse youth programs, and Deputy Housing Code Director Audrey Gaines temporarily in charge of the health department as the city prepares to search for Morrissey’s permanent replacement.
But Council President Aidee Nieves in an interview Thursday said given the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor should do more to ensure coronavirus planning, prevention, testing and the initial virus vaccinations continue to run smoothly.
“It is imperative that the mayor in the interim create a health council with health leaders (and) create this really fast,” she said. “A team of advisers, of experts, to support the city.”
Ganim’s office did not respond to Nieves’ comments and has not clarified whether Morrissey will continuing working through Jan. 15 or depart beforehand. She did not attend a news conference
about vaccinations Friday because, the city said, she was out for that one day. Papa, however, was at the event.
However, Ludwig Spinelli, chief executive officer of Optimus Health Care, which operates community health centers in Bridgeport and has been doing coronavirus testing, said he would gladly offer whatever assistance he can in the absence of a permanent health chief.
“It does shake things up a little,” Spinelli said of Morrissey’s resignation. “Now we’re heading into the vaccines and that’s going to take a lot of coordination and planning.”
And, Spinelli noted, it could take a lot of time to replace Morrissey. When her predecessor — Maritza Bond — left to lead New Haven’s health department late last January, about six weeks before the global COVID-19 pandemic struck Connecticut, Ganim launched a search and hired Morrissey away from Danbury. But her nomination was not given final City Council approval until May 18.
“I know it takes several months to get a person in there,” Spinelli said. “You don’t grab people that
quickly.”
He added he had “very good dealings” with Morrisey and was sorry to see her go.
Morrissey on Wednesday told The Post she had resigned and was looking for work, including in New Milford, but declined to explain what prompted her decision to leave Bridgeport.
She had faced some opposition from staff over efforts to restructure her agency, with a few council members trying — and failing — last summer to pass a resolution on behalf of disgruntled employees to ask Morrissey to meet with the legislative body over personnel matters.
Nieves on Thursday said that she was concerned possible replacement candidates will conclude Bridgeport is not a good place to work.
Morrissey has hired an attorney — Eric Brown — who is also representing former State Health Commissioner Renee Coleman Mitchell. Mitchell in August alleged she was discriminated against when fired in May by Gov. Ned Lamont.
Reached Thursday, Brown declined to say too much about Morrissey, other than her separation from Bridgeport “seems like it’s going to be mutually beneficial for everybody involved.”