SLO County health director resigns, says agency needs ‘fresh perspective’

San Luis Obispo County Health Agency Director Jeff Hamm will resign in April, the county announced in a news release Monday.

According to the release, the county and Hamm “have amicably agreed to part ways,” effective April 7, 2018 (Hamm will stay on through the recruitment process for his replacement).

The Board of Supervisors approved a separation agreement in closed session Monday.

“It has been my great honor to serve the people of San Luis Obispo County for 36 years and lead the Health Agency for 11 years, but I’m looking forward to retirement and the next phase of my life,” Hamm said in the release. “Our community is facing a growing number of health care system challenges, and I agree with the board that the Health Agency needs a fresh perspective to address them.”

Per the separation agreement, Hamm will receive six months’ salary, roughly $102,600, plus accumulated vacation and sick leave on or before April 30, 2018.

The county will begin a nationwide search for a new director, who according to the release will need to “continue addressing our community’s challenging health system problems and concerns, including the mental health treatment of County Jail inmates, the growing statewide mental health crisis and its effects on our community, and upcoming changes to the county’s animal shelter and services.”

Hamm has worked for the county since 1981, and as Health Agency director since 2006.

“We can’t thank Mr. Hamm enough for his decades of public service, his significant contributions as Health Agency director over the past 11 years, and for graciously agreeing to stay on through April during the recruitment process,” County Administrative Officer Wade Horton said.

This story was originally published November 27, 2017 at 3:12 PM with the headline "SLO County health director resigns, says agency needs ‘fresh perspective’."