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SALEM -- The city health board approved several personnel moves Wednesday.
The meeting saw three positions filled following an executive session which lasted over an hour. Chelsea Clark and Pastor Hery Salamanca were hired as public health nurse and Hispanic liaison, respectively, on a contractual basis.
The salary for these positions will be drawn from the department's Workforce Development Grant funding.
Clark will begin her new position Sept. 26, while Salamanca's start date has yet to be determined.
Rachel Bowen was also hired as outreach coordinator following the executive session. Health Commissioner Alanna Hughes said that the status of Bowen's existing position with the department as deputy registrar of Vital Statistics was still to be determined at that time.
The board also held a first reading of the proposed 2023 food service fees at its meeting, which are figured using a cost methodology based on time spent by the department on the licensing, inspection and administration of the program.
This year saw decreases to the bulk of the fees, with some notable exceptions such as the fee for vending operations which saw a significant increase, more than doubling in cost. Two more readings and a public hearing will be required for approval of the annual update to the fees.
Environmental Health Director Alan Masters attributed the cost decreases to an increase on the number of establishments selling food to split the cost between them; and the fact that since gaining the ability to conduct inspections in the field, the time required, and associated cost to the department have decreased.
The proposed fees are (with this year's fees in parentheses): risk classification less than 25,000 square feet, level one $107.57 ($108.15), level two $121.05 ($121.90), level three $230.51 ($233.53) and level four $291.98 ($296.22); more than 25,000 square feet, level one $155.02 ($156.54), level two $163.11 ($164.79), level three $575.60 ($585.46), and level four $610.10 ($620.66); vending operation, $38.26 ($14.63); mobile facility, $112.99 ($112.99) and temporary facility (per event), $26.66 ($37.66).
The fees don't include the required state fees, which must be added in. The cost for plan reviews for both new establishments or remodels remain $275 each.
The health board will meet next at 2 p.m. Oct. 18.
mahart@mojonews.com