UPPER FREEHOLD – The Upper Freehold Township Board of Health is taking on a new look.
On May 2, municipal officials amended the township code and established the Board of Health’s members will be the five members of the Township Committee, the township assessor and a medical expert.
The members of the Township Committee are Stephen Alexander, who is serving as mayor during 2019, LoriSue H. Mount, who is serving as deputy mayor during 2019, Dr. Robert Frascella, Stanley Moslowski Jr. and Robert Faber.
Prior to the change and according to the township’s website, the members of the Board of Health were Nancy Amontis, George King, Kathy Stryeski, James Rosenbauer, Curtis Byrnes, Moslowski, who was the township liaison, and Jeffrey Plunkett, the health officer.
According to municipal officials, the Board of Health makes all necessary rules and regulations for the protection and health of residents, to guard against the spread of contagious diseases, and to prevent, by necessary rules, the introduction of diseases, contagious or otherwise, in the township. It is the duty of the board to enforce all ordinances that relate to public health or nuisance.
Prior to the change, the six members of the Board of Health were appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Committee to serve three-year terms.
The committee’s May 2 action established the five members of the governing body as members of the Board of Health during their terms in office.
Of the two regular members of the board who do not serve on the governing body, one must be a licensed physician in New Jersey or a school nurse. The physician or the school nurse will be not required to be a resident of Upper Freehold.
The board member who is a physician or a school nurse will be appointed by the Township Committee to a three-year term.
The last regular member of the Board of Health will be the township assessor, who is appointed by the committee and will serve during his or her employment as assessor.
Two alternate board members will be appointed by the Township Committee.
The changes also amend the organization and powers of the board. Previously, the board met monthly and elected a chairman and vice chairman from among its members.
Moving forward, the board will meet annually or as may be necessary for the conduct of business and the mayor and deputy mayor will serve as chair and vice chair, respectively.
Previously, the board had the power and authority to employ a secretary, experts and staff for enforcement and carrying out its purposes, and to pay for their services while not exceeding the amount appropriated by the township for the use of the Board of Health.
Now, the board will have all the power and authority as permitted by law.
Members of the Board of Health receive no compensation for their services other than being reimbursed by the township for any expenses they incur while performing the functions as board members.
Upper Freehold’s website lists a telephone number and an email address for each member of the Township Committee. Alexander did not respond to an email or return a telephone message seeking comment as to why municipal officials changed the makeup of the Board of Health.
