News File Photo District Health Department No 4 appears in this 2020 News file photo.

ALPENA — The District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) has laid off its emergency preparedness supervisor and another employee, according to Lloyd Peltier, health board chair.

On Friday, Peltier said there may be future layoffs and possible furloughs too.

As of Friday, it was unknown as to how many employees will be affected by potential layoffs and furloughs. A furlough is defined as a suspension or discharge of employees due to economic conditions or shortage of work.

This layoff, and potential future layoffs and furloughs, follows a series of challenges the department has faced within the last six to eight months. According to Peltier, the board has been expecting an audit of the department’s finances during that time. Until that audit is completed, Peltier declined to comment on the DHD4 budget. However, Peltier stated that the audit has taken longer than expected.

“It’s been far too long,” Peltier said.

At the May DHD4 health board meeting, DHD4 Administrative Health OfficerDenise Bryan explained that the department was aiming to have a budget for June but said that it could be as far out as September till the budget is finalized. According to Bryan, this delay is due to potential cuts that may come from the state and federal level.

Peltier explained that the DHD4 budgeting challenges are also compounded with a vacant finance director position, after the previous director resigned. Peltier couldn’t give an exact day to when the previous director resigned, but he said that the vacancy occurred between April and May.

At the May meeting, Bryan updated the health board that the finance director was “transitioning out” and that the finance staff members were reporting to her.

William LaHaie, Alpena health board member, corroborated Peltier’s statement that there have been layoffs at the department.

“A couple people were laid off because of some money problems,” LaHaie said.

LaHaie explained that the layoffs were a result of appropriated funds for the laid-off positions that the health department is no longer receiving.

“This is something that happens when you don’t have the money,” LaHaie said.

Additionally, LaHaie stated that he doesn’t believe the layoffs will impact public health.

“Layoffs aren’t going to affect the public health that much,” LaHaie said. “They still have quite a big staff there.”

Though Peltier could only confirm the one layoff, LaHaie said there might have been multiple.

“I know there were two,” LaHaie said. “Might have been three or four.”

LaHaie explained that he isn’t fully aware of what daily operations look like at the health department so he is unsure how or if there will be further impacts from the layoffs.

“I go to the meeting once a month,” LaHaie said. “I’m not involved in daily operations.”

LaHaie explained that there will be more clarification as to the status of layoffs and budget updates at the next DHD4 meeting that will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena office.

Bryan declined to comment.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.