Asked the City Manager to work with the Law Department and other relevant City departments and prepare a report regarding the efficacy of establishing a dual reporting system for the Director of Public Health, the process by which the City could establish by ordinance a Commissioner of Public Health who would report directly to the City Manager, and the reestablishment of a Health Policy Board

O-14

On October 17, 2023, the Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee and the Health and Environment Committee held a joint meeting to discuss the relationship between the city and the Cambridge Health Alliance including a review of the operations and budget of the Public Health Department, the Cambridge Health Alliance annual contract with the City of Cambridge, legal options for structuring the public health board, and other ways to best serve the community's public health needs; and

Ideas suggested during the meeting to analyze the relationship included: ensuring yearly reporting requirements are complete and up to date, ensuring both parties are in compliance with current contract requirements, ensuring the City is in compliance with current ordinances, and hiring a consultant to review the relationship; and

During the meeting a number of questions were raised regarding the reporting structure of the Cambridge Health Alliance, the makeup of certain advisory boards, and the process by which the City could make changes to the relationship between the Cambridge Health Alliance and the City; now therefore be it

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department and other relevant City departments and prepare a report responding to several questions raised during the meeting, including: the efficacy of establishing a dual reporting system for the Director of Public Health, the process by which the City could establish by ordinance a Commissioner of Public Health who would report directly to the City Manager, and the reestablishment of a Health Policy Board; and be it further

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consider hiring a consultant to review the current relationship between the Cambridge Health Alliance and the City to help the City better understand optimal configuration for the public health department to provide for the public health of city residents; and be it further

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with a report and recommendations in a timely manner.