Dr. Michael Brumage, executive director and health officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, received a 4 percent salary increase, bringing his salary from $170,000 to about $177,000, at the Thursday afternoon board of health meeting.
The unanimous approval of the raise by the Board of Health followed an executive session, during which Brumage received a 99 percent positive evaluation, according to Brenda Isaac, president of the Board of Health. This is the first raise for Brumage since he took the post.
"We really had a hard time finding anything negative to say," she said, "probably that he works too hard."
Brumage said, "I'm very grateful for the opportunity to work for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department." He said it is "one of the best jobs in West Virginia" because it gives him "an opportunity to make a tangible difference for the people in our community."
"There can be no better reward," he said.
"We wish it could be more," said Bobby Reishman, a member of the board.
About 75 percent of Brumage's salary now is paid by West Virginia University, so the contribution from the health department "is still substantially less than it was before," said John Law, health department spokesman. Brumage recently became assistant dean at the WVU School of Public Health.
In May, the Board of Health voted unanimously to cut five clerical jobs in the clinic division. They attributed the lay-offs to declining funding sources, automation of patient records, and lessening patient load. They attribute the lessening patient load to the increased number of patients with insurance in West Virginia, due to the Affordable Care Act.
The health department also has hired a new assistant for Brumage, Margaret "Maggie" Linsky.
Brumage has overseen the implementation of the health department's harm reduction program, as well as the collaborative harm reduction program - the Great Rivers Harm Reduction Coalition - with Cabell and Putnam counties. He spearheaded a statewide coalition that focuses on preventing and reducing the impact of adverse childhood experiences, and includes more than 70 organizations and individuals, according to the group's website. Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, are associated with poor health outcomes in several areas in later life, including illicit drug use.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.