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Cheshire honors a student who built an online clinicians directory, recognizes election workers and introduces new health director
Summary
Council recognized Cheshire High senior Sushita Srinivasan for creating two websites and a clinician database to replace a paper directory, praised registrars and poll workers for a successful early‑voting operation, and heard from newly appointed Health Director Kate Glendon about operational improvements and community health programs.
The Cheshire Town Council opened public communications on Nov. 18 by recognizing a local high-school student and town election workers, and by introducing the town’s newly appointed health director.
Michelle, the town’s Youth and Human Services director, introduced Cheshire High School senior Sushita Srinivasan and described a volunteer project that replaced the department’s paper clinicians directory with two websites and a cloud-backed database. Michelle told the council Sushita’s online system reduced a six-month manual data-collection process to an automated upload and vetting workflow, and that the human services department plans to add a QR code and go live by month’s end. Sushita explained clinicians create accounts, enter license and treatment information and can update their listings; staff will check entries monthly to keep the directory current. Michelle said about 30 providers had already signed up.
Council members thanked Sushita and suggested features they’d like to see, including an indication of after‑hours availability and a visible link from the town homepage for residents in crisis. Councilor Pearson and others emphasized the value of a vetted resource for mental-health referrals and local providers.
The council then recognized deputy registrars and poll workers for their work during two weeks of early voting. Registrars reported nearly 50% turnout of registered voters during early voting at town hall, a 14-day staffing commitment and plans to train staff on new voter‑registration software in January. Registrars said the early-voting operation moved to chambers this year and processed more than 2,000 early votes in that location.
Later in the meeting the council welcomed Kate Glendon as the town’s director of health. Glendon described her public‑health background and said since her August appointment her office has focused on strengthening operations, improving turnaround times for inspections and increasing community‑facing services. She announced a new digital inspection tool for salons, day-care centers and (soon) septic systems; said the department has provided same-day or next‑day responses to complaints; and listed expanded wellness programming and increased transparency as priorities.
The council offered Sushita and town staff its appreciation and encouraged further outreach to residents and providers to maximize the directory’s usefulness.
