Delaware County commissioners approve Dr. David Brand as interim health officer after death of longtime officer

Delaware County Commissioners on Wednesday approved Dr. David Brand as interim county health officer after the sudden death of the county's longtime health officer, Dr. Peterson, who died late the previous night, the chair said.

"We sadly gather today to fill the health officer's position of the late doctor Peterson who passed away late last night," the Chair said as the special emergency meeting opened. The Chair said the meeting's purpose was to address the vacancy and to act quickly to maintain public-health leadership.

The clerk told commissioners that Dr. Peterson had served on the county health board "for going on 34 years," and described social-media tributes and community memories of his service. According to the clerk, the county Board of Health held an emergency meeting at noon and unanimously voted to name Dr. David Brand as interim health officer.

A committee member moved that the commissioners approve the Board of Health's recommendation to appoint Dr. Brand; a second was recorded and the commissioners proceeded to a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote as: Commissioner Henry, yes; Mister Brann, abstain; Mister Reagan, yes. The appointment was approved with two votes in favor and one abstention.

After the vote, commissioners and staff offered condolences to Dr. Peterson's family and colleagues. The committee then moved to recess; the clerk recorded a subsequent roll call in which Commissioners Henry, Brown and Reagan voted yes, and the meeting recessed.

The commissioners did not discuss compensation, the length of Dr. Brand's interim term, or next procedural steps for a permanent appointment during the recorded segments. The clerk's remarks indicate the Board of Health intends Dr. Brand to serve in the interim; commissioners approved that recommendation during the emergency session.