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Alliance hires regional public health specialist at posted $75,000; consultant rate increase deferred
Summary
The alliance voted to hire Cassidy O’Hare at $75,000 (with Sydney Garrelli as backup at $65,000) and deferred a decision on a proposed 3%–5% increase to BME Strategies’ SSC line item, scheduling a follow-up budget meeting the week of June 8.
The Northern Bristol County Public Health Alliance on June 3 voted to offer the regional public health specialist position to Cassidy O’Hare at the posted salary of $75,000; if O’Hare declines, the alliance will offer the role to runner-up Sydney Garrelli at $65,000.
Erika Syokau (BME Strategies) told the group that three alliance members (Dan, Anne Marie Fleming and Danielle Gurgel) conducted interviews with both candidates. Interviewers reported favoring Cassidy for readiness to begin work, but Anne Marie Fleming raised an ethics concern about offering a salary higher than what was posted and cited a subcommittee salary-research figure that placed the average public health specialist around $65,000. Meghan Russell (BME Strategies) said matching Cassidy’s requested salary was intended to support long-term sustainability and staff retention.
Sherri Miller-Bedau moved to hire Cassidy at $75,000 with a contingency offer to Sydney at $65,000; Anne Marie Fleming seconded. A roll call vote recorded “Yes” from Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, North Attleborough, Rehoboth and Taunton.
On the budget’s consultant-costs line, Meghan Russell asked the alliance to increase the SSC line item by either 3% or 5% to reflect overhead and administrative costs included in BME’s annual rate. Some members, including Geri Hamel, supported a 5% increase; others, including Anne Marie Fleming, said the contract did not explicitly allow increases and preferred no change. Erika Syokau proposed giving the advisory board additional time to consider the request; the group agreed to defer the decision and schedule a follow-up meeting to finalize the FY26 budget and close out FY25.
Administrative next steps noted in the meeting record: BME will share the work plan and budget documents with alliance members, and members will provide available dates for a final budget approval meeting the week of June 8. The meeting adjourned at 11:31 a.m. after a unanimous roll call vote.
