Tompkins County Commissioner of Public Health Frank announced he will leave his post in February and confirmed his last day at the county is Feb. 7. The Board heard that County Administrator Lisa Holmes appointed Jeremy Porter, the county fiscal administrator, as interim commissioner and that Porter will attend the county board’s February meeting. Frank said he will assist in the transition and later work with an external organization on behavioral‑health projects in the region.

The board spent substantial time on a bylaws rewrite drafted by Kathy (Khaki), focusing on procedural details including the advance‑notice period for bylaw changes, a restored charter provision for a Commissioner of Whole Health, and subcommittee chair responsibilities. The draft updates incorporate language from the county charter and the Mental Hygiene Law and seeks to align local practice with New York State Department of Health expectations. Board members agreed to add Developmental Disabilities to a list of state approvals cited in the bylaws for the Commissioner of Whole Health and to explicitly allow subcommittee chairs to attend meetings in person or remotely and require that they attend or designate a representative at least three times a year.

Board members also discussed the requirement that bylaws be published a certain number of days before a vote: under the board’s current bylaws, notice must be sent 15 days before a vote; a county template reduced that interval to five days and the draft reflects the shorter interval. Members agreed the bylaws draft and any future changes must be sent in the timeframe required by whichever rule the legislature and county adopt, and that the bylaws draft must be circulated with the official notice when the board seeks to vote on it.

The board reviewed personnel and credentialing issues tied to the commissioner search. Frank said the Department of Health now expects candidates for the public‑health director credential to hold an MPH in many cases; he described that state credentialing requirements are stricter now than when he was hired. The board discussed that the incoming commissioner search will need to address credentialing — either by recruiting someone who already meets the public‑health credentialing requirements or by confirming a path and timeline, acceptable to the New York State Department of Health, for a new hire to become credentialed. Frank noted that Brenda Crosby, the department deputy who has served in interim roles, has decades of experience but does not hold a graduate degree and therefore does not currently meet the formal credentialing requirement.

Members agreed the county administrator and the legislature will lead the formal recruiting process; board members requested to be included on the search committee and the board chair said she will follow up with the new county administrator to request board representation. Frank said staff will prepare an RFP for a national search firm to help recruit a medical director, a position held currently by Dr. Lippert, who intends to retire.

The board endorsed short‑term continuity: Jan was appointed by motion to continue to run the meeting until the nominating committee finalizes a slate. The board voted to approve minutes from Dec. 2 and later voted to enter executive session.

The board asked staff to circulate the finalized bylaws draft, reflecting agreed edits, in time for the next official notice so that a vote on bylaws can be held in February if the notice requirements are met. Members also asked staff to send the start dates and names for newly hired clinic staff to the board once available. Ending with thanks, board members praised Frank’s service and expressed support for the interim team and the incoming search process.