QUESTION
Were the headcount reductions within DOH MH proposed by the department, and what impact will these have on disease prevention programs?
2:32:20
·
123 sec
Jacques Jiha explains the headcount reductions were proposed by DOH MH due to long-vacant positions and emphasizes flexibility in addressing future health needs.
- The reductions pertained to positions that had been vacant for a significant period.
- These positions were proposed for reduction by DOH MH itself.
- Jiha assures that there is flexibility for addressing future critical public health needs.
- The discussion focused on ensuring the reductions will not impact crucial health programs like disease prevention and treatment.
Lynn C. Schulman
2:32:20
Thank you.
2:32:21
I want to thank the speaker and the chair for today's important hearing, and thank you, Doctor.
2:32:26
Jaharfer.
2:32:26
Being here and answering all all of our questions today.
2:32:29
So DOH MH's headcount was reduced by 18 positions in the preliminary plan on top of a reduction of 29 positions in the November plan for fiscal 2025 resulting from pegs.
2:32:43
Overall, the department's fiscal 2025 budgeted headcount is 6% less than its current fiscal 2024 budgeted headcount.
2:32:52
The department's head count within the disease prevention and treatment program area for fiscal 2025 is 217 less than it currently is in fiscal 2024, a 17% difference.
2:33:03
So I have 3 questions.
2:33:04
One is, was this headcount reduction proposed by DOH MH.
2:33:09
What discussions have you held with DOH MH over the past 6 months to ensure that there won't be an impact on the disease prevention and treatment, and you anticipate any additional headcount reductions.
2:33:20
And I just want to say that the Disease and Prevention is the heart of the mayor's program, Healthy NYC, which was codified by legislation that I introduced and was passed unanimously by the city council recently.
2:33:35
Thank you.
Jacques Jiha
2:33:36
Yeah.
2:33:36
These are the pegs, basically.
2:33:38
These were vacant long, vacant positions.
2:33:42
And that we discussed with Geo HMH, and that's what they submitted to us because there's a vacant position that they could not fit.
2:33:52
For the longest.
2:33:53
So these are things these are the position they submitted.
2:33:56
Please wait for the other needs.
2:33:57
As I said, I believe they are properly funded, but as we go forward, if there is a need because we always exempted this from the because the this is critical public health.
2:34:11
They always have the authority to have, but if there's a rank whose need based on our own assessment, when we discuss with them with the agencies who will address them in coming plans.
Lynn C. Schulman
2:34:20
Okay.
2:34:21
Thank you.
2:34:21
That was that was my question.
Jacques Jiha
2:34:22
Thank you.