HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY- T. BELTON

Adopt Resolution appointing Dr. George Gellert as the County Public Health Officer and waive the registered voter requirements of Government Code Section 24001 finding that waiver is in the best interest of the County to prevent an interruption of essential services. Approve title changes with the corresponding salaries. Delegate authority to the Health & Human Services Agency Director to offer employment within the new established salary range for the Public Health Officer and Deputy Public Health Officer/EMS Medical Director – Extra Help.  

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

RESOLUTION NO: 2021-123

Dr. David Ghilarducci has been performing the duties of the Interim Health Officer on a part time basis since May 2020. The County now has the opportunity to appoint a full time Health Officer, Dr. George Gellert who has been performing the duties of the Deputy Health Officer through an extra help position since December 2020.

Section 101000 of the California Health and Safety Code requires that the Board of Supervisors appoint a Full Time Health Officer who possesses the qualifications and active license of a Medical Doctor.  Additionally, Section 24001 of the Government Code requires a person appointed to a county office to be a registered voter of the county in which the duties of the office are to be exercised.  Section 24001 allows the Board of Supervisors to waive this requirement if it finds the best interest of the county will be served.  The County has been recruiting for a full time Health Officer since the departure of Dr. Gail Newel in June, 2019 without success.  Additionally, the COVID-19 Pandemic has created a shortage of these positions throughout the state.   Dr. Gellert is willing to accept the appointment however he currently does not reside in the County.  Waiving the residency requirement would prevent an interruption of essential services and serve the bests interests of the County.

Dr. Gellert comes to San Benito County Health and Human Services, Public Health Services with exemplary qualifications and extensive public health experience.  Dr. Gellert received his Masters in Public Health from Yale University School of Public Health, his medical degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine, and a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a board certified specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, completing this training at the UCLA School of Public Health. Dr. Gellert served as Medical Epidemiologist in Communicable Disease Control with Los Angeles County from 1987 to 1989, as Deputy Health Officer and County Epidemiologist with Orange County from 1990 to 1993, as Public Health Advisor for Cancer Control with the United Nations IAEA from 2004 to 2007, and as Deputy Health Officer for San Benito County since December 2020. 

The title change to Deputy Public Health Officer/EMS Medical Director – Extra Help is needed in order to attract and hire more qualified candidates without the use of contracts. This classification would allow the Health & Human Services Agency more autonomy in making hiring decisions. Incumbents in this extra help classification would have no benefits and be subject to CalPERS rules regarding the fiscal year hour limit threshold. Staff recommends the Board delegate authority to the Health & Human Services Agency Director to offer employment within the new establish salary range for the Deputy Public Health Officer/EMS Medical Director – Extra Help. The Public Health Officer would oversee the Deputy Public Health Officer/EMS Medical Director – Extra Help and amend the County's class title and pay plan to reflect the ranges.