Mike Byrns, a candidate from Rhode Island, is set to visit the La Plata County Board of Health for an in-person interview at the end of April. The board has opted to proceed with his recruitment, and if he decides to withdraw his application, the search for a public health director will commence anew.
After one of the finalists, Tara Hardy, withdrew her application for personal reasons, Mike Byrns remains the only candidate for the top job at the county’s health department. The board members will interview Byrns in person later this month and hold a public meet-and-greet event as part of the recruitment process. Byrnes has also informed the county that he is a finalist for another position; if he withdraws from that position, the county staff will restart the recruitment process.
Mike Byrnes currently serves as the assistant director of health at the Rhode Island Department of Health in Providence, where he is state’s leading toxicologist. Following a 90-minute executive session aimed at establishing a contingency plan in case he withdraws from consideration, the decision was made to continue recruiting him.
The public meet-and-greet event with Mike Byrnes is scheduled for April 24th at La Plata County administration building in Durango. The board aims to have a plan ready to fill the position swiftly if Byrnes decides to withdraw from consideration.
