POUGHKEEPSIE – The merger
of the Dutchess County Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene is one
step closer to reality as the Government Services Committee of the County
Legislature unanimously gave its approval on Thursday.
County Executive Marcus Molinaro said in addition to bringing the two health-related fields together, there will be a matter of efficiency.
“We estimate the savings to in the neighborhood of $400,000; because of some reinvestment it would be a little bit larger but we are reinvesting some of that savings in other areas,” Molinaro said. “There are no layoffs; there are no eliminations of individuals within the two departments so the merger does not even a reduction in total positions. We do not foresee the need for that to occur.”
Another committee, the Budget, Finance and Personnel confirmed the appointment of Dr. Henry Kurban as the commissioner of the merged department – the new Department of Behavioral and Community Health and Sabrina Marzouka, the acting commissioner of Community and Family Services to that post permanently.
The full legislature must vote on all of the resolutions when it meets next week.
