Northampton Public Health Director Now Accountable to Mayor
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz is happy now that Governor Patrick has approved a long-awaited change to the city charter. Now the city's Board of Health will be expanded from three to five members, and answer to a health director appointed by the mayor. Former Mayor Clare Higgins was the one who first pushed for the change. She told reporters there were accountability issues with a former health director who answered to the board instead of directly to her.