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Kent County names Carla Thorpe acting health officer; department to review septic permitting and staffing
Summary
The Kent County Board of County Commissioners introduced Carla Thorpe as the new acting health officer and directed her to review past audit findings, address septic ('perk') test concerns and pursue staffing to meet licensed sanitarian requirements.
Carla Thorpe, the newly appointed acting health officer for the Kent County Health Department, told county commissioners she has spent her first weeks meeting with Maryland Department of Health staff and county administrators and is prioritizing environmental health, permit processes and community clinics.
"I greatly appreciate you guys giving me the opportunity to be the acting health officer," Thorpe said, adding she has been meeting with staff, the Maryland Department of Environment and local contractors to understand and address issues raised in an earlier audit. She said the department is running flu clinics and overseeing renovation work at the AF Whitsett Center building, where staff expect to turn on the boiler system soon.
Commissioners pressed Thorpe about past problems with septic ("perk") testing and whether there is a licensed sanitarian available to sign permits. Thorpe said she is reviewing the prior audit and a strategic plan and has begun meeting with septic contractors and MDE to ensure future compliance with COMAR rules. She said permit sign-offs must be completed by someone holding the required sanitarian license and acknowledged recruitment and certification have been challenging.
Thorpe asked residents who have specific septic concerns to contact the health department so staff can investigate individual situations. "If anybody can reach out that helps because then I could specifically try to look at what's happening with one particular situation and try to remedy each one as we go through," she said, and provided a department contact number: (410) 778-2409.
Thorpe told commissioners the department is exploring shared staffing and state support while two candidates are in the pipeline to complete required training and testing. Commissioners said they wanted to remain informed about progress on audits, permit backlogs and staffing.
The board did not take a separate vote on program changes at the meeting; Thorpe's remarks were presented during the appointment and staff-update portion of the agenda. The commissioners asked staff to return with updates as Thorpe completes her review and hires or certifies additional sanitarians.
