Time is past due to get a health officer

Asurvey of Anne Arundel County Health Department employees found they have a morale problem.

They believe they aren't paid enough. People leave for betterpaying jobs. They're worried that a wave of retirements will drain the collective wisdom from the place.

They're concerned that too much focus on today's crisis leaves them vulnerable to the next crisis. Ideas based on science and experience in the field are shelved because of politics.

In short, they're just like everyone else who works in an organization with multiple levels of authority and control — any bureaucracy.

There is no doubt that the findings of the transition report prepared for County Executive Steuart Pittman are legitimate. Public health officials have genuine concerns about the direction of their agency.

There are many ways to address these concerns. The first and most important step is for Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall — a former Anne Arundel County executive — to appoint a county health officer.

This agency has not had a permanent director since Jinlene Chan left in May 2017 for a temporary assignment as deputy state secretary. She was replaced on an interim basis by former health officer Fran Phillips.

When Chan decided to stay at the state agency in February, Phillips agreed to remain after being asked by then-county executive Steve Schuh. But she left to become deputy state health secretary last fall.

Her departure was followed by that of Dr. David Rose in October, public health director for the department for five years. He left to take a position with the Baltimore County health department.

The county health officer is a state employee who works closely with county government. County funding does support programs run by the Health Department, and the County Council provides guidance when it meets roughly twice a year as the county Board of Health.

In addition, the county executive has some influence over the person who leads this agency. County Executive Steuart Pittman knows Neall personally, they are both from Davidsonville, and has said a selection may be coming soon.

The county Health Department is an important player in the county's efforts to deal with the opioid crisis, and the lack of a leader for that department can have only had a detrimental impact on the joint work.

We have argued that the health department should play a role in studying gun violence in Anne Arundel County, a task Pittman has agreed to take on in light of the June 28 shooting in the Capital Gazette newsroom. Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, Gerald Fischman and Wendi Winters were killed by a man armed with a legally obtained shotgun.

Almost all homicides last year in this county were committed using guns. While the numbers may be small, the impact of gun violence is huge on a community.

It is past time the county had a public health leader in place. We urge Neall to make a selection soon.