Sec. 19a-244. (Formerly Sec. 19-109). Qualifications, term and duties of director of health. Employees. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-244. (Formerly Sec. 19-109). Qualifications, term and duties of director of health. Employees. The director of health shall either (1) be a doctor of medicine and hold a degree in public health as a result of having at least one year's special training in public health, or, in lieu of said degree, shall meet the qualifications prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, or (2) be trained in public health and hold a masters degree in public health. The board may specify in a written agreement with such director the term of office, which shall not exceed three years, salary and duties required of and responsibilities assigned to such director in addition to those required by the general statutes or the Public Health Code, if any. He shall be removed during the term of such written agreement only for cause after a public hearing by the board on charges preferred, of which reasonable notice shall have been given. He shall devote his entire time to the performance of such duties as are required of directors of health by the general statutes or the Public Health Code and as the board specifies in its written agreement with him; and shall act as secretary and treasurer of the board, without the right to vote. He shall give to the district a bond with a surety company authorized to transact business in the state, for the faithful performance of his duties as treasurer, in such sum and upon such conditions as the board requires. He shall be the executive officer of the district department of health. Full-time employees of a city, town or borough health department at the time such city, town or borough votes to form or join a district department of health shall become employees of such district department of health. Such employees may retain their rights and benefits in the pension system of the town, city or borough by which they were employed and shall continue to retain their active participating membership therein until retired. Such employees shall pay into such pension system the contributions required of them for their class and membership. Any additional employees to be hired by the district or any vacancies to be filled shall be filled in accordance with the rules and regulations of the merit system of the state of Connecticut and the employees who are employees of cities, towns or boroughs which have adopted a local civil service or merit system shall be included in their comparable grade with fully attained seniority in the state merit system. Such employees shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the director of health. In the event of the withdrawal of a town, city or borough from the district department, or in the event of a dissolution of any district department, the employees thereof, originally employed therein, shall automatically become employees of the appropriate town, city or borough's board of health.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3880; 1969, P.A. 688, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 183; P.A. 78-303, S. 67, 136; P.A. 79-85; P.A. 82-8; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: 1969 act replaced statement that necessary assistants and clerks be appointed subject to approval of board with specific provisions re personnel of city, town or borough health departments as employees of district health department and deleted provision that compensation be fixed by the board; 1971 act permitted health director to be "trained in public health and hold a master's degree in public health" as alternative qualification; P.A. 78-303 replaced public health council with commissioner of health services; P.A. 79-85 added provision re written agreement with director setting term of office and duties in addition to those required by state law or public health code; P.A. 82-8 specified that district health departments must hire full-time employees of town, city or borough which joins or forms the district department where previously part-time employees were included by implication through use of term "personnel" without reference to type of employment; Sec. 19-109 transferred to Sec. 19a-244 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.