Framingham Hires New Health Director

Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin announced today, Nov. 13, he has selected Michael Blanchard of Foxborough, to serve as Director of Public Health for the Town of Framingham.

Blanchard was one of three finalists for the position who were interviewed on Thursday, October 29, by Halpin, Board of Health members Michael Hugo and Laura Housman, and Director of Human Resources Dolores Hamilton.

Blanchard was the unanimous choice of the panel.

Currently the Assistant Town Administrator for the Town of Milton, Blanchard served as that town’s Health Director from 2005 to 2013, when he was promoted to his current position.

The position was posted in June, after Interim Director of Public Health Roberto Santamaria voluntarily resigned in early May.

Santamaria was the third Framingham health director to leave since spring of 2013. The other two were:

• Ethan Mascoop, citing personal reasons, resigned in spring 2013.
• Steven Ward was hired in August 2013 but resigned in October 2014.

The salary range for the position was posted as $79,483 to $90,000, when the job was posted earlier this year.

Prior to working for the Town of Milton, he worked as the Senior Public Health Inspector for the Town of Brookline. Blanchard has a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Health from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Halpin indicated “Mr. Blanchard possesses exceptional credentials in public health, particularly in the area of food safety and community health. He has training in the area of environmental science, which will be extremely beneficial to our environmental challenges in Framingham and has good experience in housing standards and enforcement. He is going to be an outstanding asset for Framingham.”

As search committee lead for the Board,Housman stated, “I am delighted that our search process, the most open and inclusive in the history of the Public Health Department, led us to Mr. Blanchard. I am confident he will build upon the excellent work of the Department for many years to come.”

Board Chair, Michael Hugo added, “We are very thankful that Mr. Halpin included the Board’s input in this hire at all stages of the process. We are certainly looking forward to Mr. Blanchard’s arrival and working closely with him as we refocus our efforts and do all we can for the public health of Framingham. Mr. Blanchard brings us a strong skill set in management as well as a solid background in environmental health and policy. Framingham is a complex town with many health-related issues and we are confident that Mr. Blanchard will rise to all challenges and guide us for many years to come.”