Lancaster City Council passed a resolution Tuesday in support of the âpromptâ establishment of a Lancaster County department of health.
The resolution also requests that the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners initiate a working group to evaluate the idea of a health department and to make recommendations by the end of a year. The resolution passed unanimously with six council members in attendance. Council member Pete Soto was absent.
âItâs overdue,â council member Xavier Garcia-Molina said.
The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners last month passed a similar resolution, then sent a letter to every school district and municipality in Lancaster County urging them to do the same.
Should Lancaster County develop its own health department?
Those in favor believe a county health department could better meet the needs of residents. Others express concerns over the potential cost. Author: Grace Griffaton (FOX43) Updated: 6:05 PM EDT April 7, 2021
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. Should Lancaster County create its own health department? This is a thing that spending a little money now is going to save us money for generations, Ismail Smith-Wade-El, Lancaster City Council President, told FOX43.
The municipal push for the creation of a Lancaster County health department started in Manheim Township, where local leaders passed a resolution in favor last month.
Lancaster City Council is officially weighing in on Lancaster Countyâs lack of a health department.
Council members at a Monday committee meeting considered a resolution supporting the creation of a county health department and moved the resolution out of committee and onto councilâs April 13 agenda.
The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners passed a similar resolution last month and then sent it to every school district and municipality in Lancaster County, urging them to do the same.
Lancaster City Council President Ismail Smith-Wade-El said he asked the city clerk to draft a resolution similar to Manheim Townshipâs but with some adjustments. Those included adding a reference to a study conducted by Franklin & Marshall College, which was partially funded by the United Way of Lancaster County and indicated strong support for a public health department.
More municipalities are joining Manheim Township in calling on Lancaster County to create a health department.
On Monday, Denver Borough officials offered informal support to the issue and said they would hold a vote on a formal resolution in the future.
In Columbia Borough, where a vote on a resolution will be taken later this month, council President Heather Zink said last week that âwith the pandemic, we need to have something on a local level.â She also cited a health departmentâs potential impact on much-needed mental health services.
And in the county seat, Lancaster City Council is planning to hold a vote Monday on a resolution that council President Ismail Smith-Wade-El expects will pass unanimously.