Old Lyme to study idea of joining health district

Move comes after resignation of town sanitarian

Old Lyme — Town officials are exploring whether it should maintain its health department or join a regional health district, following the recent resignation of the town’s sanitarian.

The officials are planning to form a committee to weigh the “pros and cons” of the town joining a health district, such as Ledge Light Health District or the Connecticut River Area Health District.

The town also has advertised the sanitarian position and could keep the setup of the town’s health department, which includes a sanitarian and a health director.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting that she received on April 19 a letter of resignation from John Sieviec, the sanitarian, for personal reasons.

Sieviec, who has served as the town’s sanitarian since February 2015, confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday that he resigned due to personal matters.

Reemsnyder said Monday that she has placed an ad in the newspaper for a new sanitarian but feels it’s also important to look at all of the town’s options.

She reached out to Ledge Light Health District and the Connecticut River Area Health District.

The health district would cover the services that the town’s health department currently does, including food service inspections, sanitary inspections and well permits, she said.

The health districts typically charge per- capita fees, which would mean Old Lyme would pay about $88,248 for the Connecticut River Area Health District or about $ 55,221 for Ledge Light, according to Reemsnyder.

In the interim, the town has subcontracted its inspections for food service facilities to a sanitarian from an area health district, Reesmsnyder said.

A second sanitarian from another district will cover wells and septic systems on a part-time basis. Existing staff also have agreed to help out to cover the town.

Reemsnyder said that while she “never got the feeling that the town would embrace” joining a health district, she thinks it’s important to analyze the option.

She mentioned a push at the state level toward municipalities joining health districts and noted that the numbers are compelling.

She said she would seek feedback from the first selectmen of towns that have joined the health districts.

Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal agreed that it is a good time to get feedback. She pointed to turnover within the sanitarian position and said it can be expensive to train and hire a new employee.

Health districts also may bring other benefits, including regional training drills.

Selectman Skip Sibley said health districts have become more efficient over time and it is worth an investigation.