The resignation of two long-time health officials has put a temporary brake on Board of Health operations.
Health Board members Alice English and Kathleen McCormack quit after the Council failed to reappoint former Health Board President Martha Rooney, according to the resignation letters.
Rooney served close to 20 years on the health board.
"Change is a constant progression of life," wrote English, who served 15 years on the health board up until March 7. "However, the action and lack of action on this matter was in my opinion inappropriate."
The resignations have placed the Board of Health at a standstill.
Without a minimum of four people serving on the board, the five-member Board of Health can neither take action nor schedule meetings.
Republican officials blamed oversight for the replacement of the former Republican mayor’s wife with Frances Brogan in January.
Hoping to fill two vacancies, the Council first voted for Brogan at a Jan. 9 meeting.
Only after the Council nominated Shirley DeCicco’s for the second vacancy did Republican Council member Scott Furletti notice Rooney was not re-appointed.
Attempting to rescind the motion, Furletti encouraged Rooney’s appointment over that of his mother-in-law. Instead, the Council reappointed DeCicco with a 5-0 vote.
Furletti abstained.
"It all comes down to [former Mayor John] Rooney behind the scenes calling the shots," said Democratic Council member JoAnn Traub. "They’re so afraid of ruffling feathers."
English, Rooney and McCormack could not be reached for comment.
At a council meeting last week, Democratic Mayor John Hogan presented Deborah Visconi to fill the void left on the health board. Visconi has nearly 20 years of hospital-related experience and currently serves as senior vice president of administration at Beth Israel Hospital, said the mayor.
The Republican-backed Council delayed the appointment of Visconi until the next April 9 council meeting.
Before casting a formal vote, Council President Lloyd Winans said he hoped to discuss the appointment with the mayor.
Health Board liaison Traub said that without a quorum the health board cannot handle tasks that include administering flu clinics, marriage licenses and payment of bills to Tyco Animal Control. And even more important is the health board, said Traub, in lieu of autism studies at St. Anthony’s.
"Once again, they are allowing politics to stand in the way of the betterment of Northvale," she said.
