Brittain resigns as Monroe County health officer, Ryterband recommended as replacement
The Monroe County board of health has accepted the resignation of health officer Clark Brittain, which he submitted just before Thanksgiving.
Brittain’s resignation is effective on Dec. 31, 2024.
The board’s action to accept Brittain’s resignation came at its Wednesday (Dec. 11) meeting.
At the same meeting, the board voted to recommend to the county board of commissioners that current board member Sarah Ryterband, who is a physician, be appointed health officer. She would resign her position on the board, which will create a vacancy to be filled.
The board of health is required to be partisan balanced, which means that the party affiliation of Reyterband’s replacement must be made in a way that does not lead to a board of seven where more than four of the members are affiliated with the same political party. Ryterband is a Democrat.
In his notice of resignation, Brittain recalled the role for which he was hired more than a year and a half ago, which he described as a “semi-urgent ‘temporary/stop gap’ replacement”.
But Brittain’s letter continues, saying that the role has changed significantly. His letter puts it like this: “Since that time, it has become apparent that the more casual role of health officer previously enjoyed has become much more professional, which I applaud, but also more demanding of time I simply do not have to offer.”
At Wednesday’s meeting, board president Stephen Pritchard thanked Brittain for his service, saying that when Brittain took the job initially, he accepted it on “practically an emergency basis.” Pritchard said that Brittain’s predecessor, longtime health officer Thomas Sharp, was experiencing some health issues.
Pritchard said that Brittain likely did not completely grasp what would be expected of him, in part because it had not been made explicit. Pritchard took responsibility for that, saying, “We didn’t spell out in detail exactly what we needed him to do.” Still, Pritchard said that Brittain had “very, very graciously continued in the job—even though he was being pulled back towards his practice and other activities.”
Under state law, it’s the county health officer who appoints the health administrator, public health nurses, environmental health specialists, computer programmers, clerks, other personnel in the health department.
Responding to an emailed question from The B Square, Ryterband wrote that the county commissioners are expected to vote on her appointment as health officer at their meeting next Wednesday (Dec. 18). If she’s appointed, then she’ll then resign from the board of health, Ryterband wrote.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting there was a change in leadership of the board.
Pritchard stepped down as president and vice president Dawne (Aurora) DiOrio was slotted in as Pritchard’s replacement. Stepping up as vice president was Lisa Hanner-Robinson.
