Essex Junction council recommends Carl Wormer as city health officer, reappoints Sharon Kelly as deputy
August 28, 2025 | Essex Junction City, Chittenden County, Vermont
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Essex Junction — The Essex Junction City Council on Aug. 27 voted to recommend Carl Wormer to the Vermont Department of Health for appointment as the city’s health officer, effective Oct. 1, 2025, and approved reappointment of Sharon Kelly as deputy health officer, effective Sept. 1, 2025.
The appointments came during a council agenda item after the council was informed that current health officer, Assistant Fire Chief John Rowell, will step down in September. City staff said the council’s recommendation is a formal step required before the state’s health commissioner makes the appointment.
The council discussed timing differences: the deputy position for Sharon Kelly must begin Sept. 1, while the city health officer appointment would begin Oct. 1. City staff noted an administrative form error that listed an incorrect start date and said the paperwork was corrected. A councilor asked whether Carl’s form should be filed as a new appointment rather than a reappointment; staff agreed it should be corrected to “new appointment.”
A motion read into the record asked that the council “make the recommendation to the Department of Health to appoint Carl Wormer to the position of health officer for the city starting 10/01/2025 and reappoint Sharon Kelly to the position of deputy health officer for the city starting 09/01/2025.” The motion was seconded and the council answered “Aye,” and the motion passed.
Why it matters: The health officer is the local official who coordinates with the Vermont Department of Health on public-health actions for the city; naming a successor and confirming deputy coverage keeps continuity for routine and emergency public-health duties.
Officials and next steps: City staff will submit the council recommendation to the Vermont Department of Health for the commissioner’s action. Staff also said they will update the forms to show Carl Wormer as a new appointment rather than a reappointment and confirmed the corrected start date for Sharon Kelly.
No public comment or dissent on the appointments was recorded during the agenda item, and the council’s action was recorded as approved by voice vote.
The appointments came during a council agenda item after the council was informed that current health officer, Assistant Fire Chief John Rowell, will step down in September. City staff said the council’s recommendation is a formal step required before the state’s health commissioner makes the appointment.
The council discussed timing differences: the deputy position for Sharon Kelly must begin Sept. 1, while the city health officer appointment would begin Oct. 1. City staff noted an administrative form error that listed an incorrect start date and said the paperwork was corrected. A councilor asked whether Carl’s form should be filed as a new appointment rather than a reappointment; staff agreed it should be corrected to “new appointment.”
A motion read into the record asked that the council “make the recommendation to the Department of Health to appoint Carl Wormer to the position of health officer for the city starting 10/01/2025 and reappoint Sharon Kelly to the position of deputy health officer for the city starting 09/01/2025.” The motion was seconded and the council answered “Aye,” and the motion passed.
Why it matters: The health officer is the local official who coordinates with the Vermont Department of Health on public-health actions for the city; naming a successor and confirming deputy coverage keeps continuity for routine and emergency public-health duties.
Officials and next steps: City staff will submit the council recommendation to the Vermont Department of Health for the commissioner’s action. Staff also said they will update the forms to show Carl Wormer as a new appointment rather than a reappointment and confirmed the corrected start date for Sharon Kelly.
No public comment or dissent on the appointments was recorded during the agenda item, and the council’s action was recorded as approved by voice vote.
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