WESTFIELD — Joseph Rouse has retired from his position as Westfield’s director of public health, according to his attorney Ray Zenkert. His decision came in the wake of an agreement to pay $11,507 in restitution to settle a prosecution for embezzling funds from his union.
“My understanding is that he has gone into retirement,” Zenkert said. “His retirement is being processed.”
Rouse had been on administrative leave since July 2023, the month he pleaded not guilty to a charge of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme for embezzling funds from the Westfield Professional Municipal Employees Association, of which he served as treasurer. Zenkert said he retired on or around Tuesday, Feb. 6, the day of his most recent Westfield District Court hearing.
In the meantime, Assistant Health Director Debra Mulvenna took up his work. On Wednesday, Feb. 14, without much discussion, the Board of Health unanimously elected her acting director of public health, effective Feb. 15. She will hold that title until a new director is hired. All board members thanked her for her work during this time.
“Thank you, Debra, for keeping the ship afloat,” said board member Stan Strzempko, M.D.
The court agreement requires Rouse to pay $11,507 in restitution and to write an apology letter. He will be on pre-trial probation until August. Zenkert said the restitution has already been paid and the letter of apology is being drafted. The letter will go to the district attorney.
Despite being called pre-trial probation, the case will be dismissed once the agreement’s conditions are met, Zenkert said.
“I’m satisfied that with the cooperation and the understanding of our district attorney’s office that this is a very good way of getting this case resolved,” he said. “If everything works out the way we hope it is, the case is going to be dismissed, and everybody will move on with their lives.”
In other business, the Board of Health elected Strzempko as its new chair for a one-year term, effective March 1. He will replace Juanita Carnes, who retired after 30 years on the board.
Carnes said either he or board member Carrie Hildreth-Fiordalice would do a good job. Strzempko initially deferred to Fiordalice, but Fiordalice deferred back to him. Board members voted unanimously in favor of electing him.
Strzempko thanked Carnes for her years on the board. Carnes waxed nostalgic about her experiences on the board, especially under former mayor Rick Sullivan, who was in office from 1994 to June 2007.