Middletown health director explains inter‑town backup role and launches $6,000 family health pilot

Kevin Elak, Middletown’s director of health, told the common council at a July 6 questions‑to‑directors workshop that a proposed memorandum of understanding with the town of Cromwell would name Middletown as a potential source of acting director coverage during planned absences.

"So far, it's been nothing more than having my phone on," Elak said, describing past mutual‑aid arrangements as largely remote support — answering staff questions or signing orders when necessary — rather than physically relocating to another town.

Council members asked why the MOU lists no compensation and whether covering staff would implicate collective‑bargaining rules. Elak said the arrangement is statutory in purpose (designating who will act during planned absences), that Middletown’s in‑house public health manager ordinarily fills that role, and that the Cromwell MOU is intended only as a backup. He said acting duties to date have been limited and have mostly required phone or digital sign‑off rather than in‑person work.

Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell and others followed by pressing Elak to explain a separate, recent grant award. Elak said the health department received a $6,000 grant for two years to run Building Healthy Families, an evidence‑based, family‑centered healthy‑weight program endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control.

"It's not about the money. It's only a $6,000 grant," Elak said, noting the program's value lies in partnerships and using existing staff and school resources. He described a 12‑week curriculum for children ages 6–12 with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile, with cohorts of six to 10 families per year and in‑kind support from Middletown Public Schools and Middlesex Hospital.

Elak said the health department will coordinate recruitment through pediatric offices and schools, that the department will manage the program, and that staff will evaluate sustainment after the two‑year pilot.

No formal vote was taken on either the Cromwell MOU or the grant during the workshop; council members asked that final documentation and any required amendments be filed for future agenda consideration.