Spicer Administration: Framingham Won’t Have New Health Director Until June

[broadstreet zone=”70107″]

FRAMINGHAM – The Spicer administration told SOURCE the City of Framingham will not have a new permanent health director until June.

The City of Framingham began advertising for a health director on March 8.

The $105,000 to $130,000 position “is responsible for the direction, coordination, development and supervision of the public health needs of the community. The Director is a key position within the City who will develop and oversee programs, policies and budget preparation for the Department of Public Health,” stated the job posting.

Legally, the city must post the position for at least 30 days.

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]

As of today, April 29, the City had received 11 resumes, said City of Framingham Chief Information Office Kelly McFalls.

“We have begun the interview process and are still determining who else will be interviewed. It’s too soon to put a number on it,” said McFalls to SOURCE.

The City’s spokesperson could not say how many finalists there will be for the director position.

When asked by the digital news outlet when a new health director would be named, McFalls said “early June.”

SOURCE has learned that the City’s interim health director – its assistant director Alex DePalo did not apply for the post.

[broadstreet zone=”70106″]

Framingham, like the Commonwealth and the County, has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic since spring 2020. Framingham has had more than 8,000 residents test positive for the virus – that is roughly 1 out of every 10 residents.

Assistant Director Alex DePalo has been Interim Director of the Department since the start of the new year.

The City of Framingham, in a press release, announced on February 25, Health Director Samuel Wong resigned on February 26, 2021.

In a press release “Dr. Wong has been on leave since Friday, January 1, 2021, citing ‘health reasons’ and officially submitted his resignation Wednesday, February 24.”

Wong wrote to state leaders in an email in December 29, 2020, that he had submitted his resignation (see below) and would not return to the City of Framingham.

City records show Wong had been using his vacation time between December 2020 and February 2021.

Wong was hired by the Town of Framingham in August 2017.

[broadstreet zone=”59945″]