I am writing to express my support for Joanne Belanger for election to the Board of Health. While I have served on the Board of Health for the past 6 ½ years, currently serving as chairman, the support expressed is my personal opinion and is not intended to express the position of the board.
Joanne (Martel) Belanger served on the Board of Health for 12 years, 4 ½ of which I had the pleasure of serving beside her through 2014. Recently, a position on the board was vacated, and Joanne was jointly appointed by the Board of Selectman and the Board of Health to complete the term through the May election. She is interested in running for the remaining one year term in May.
Joanne has extensive experience in managing municipal health department programs. She has a degree in health administration, is a registered nurse, and has worked for 30 years in the Andover Health Department, currently as assistant director of public health. Our health departments manage a vast array of public health issues. Joanne is well rounded and experienced in public health  and is familiar with the laws and regulations involved on the local, state and federal level, such as food safety, summer camps, housing, immunizations, communicable disease prevention, septic systems, well water quality, other environmental protections (air quality / noise), and emergency preparedness, to name a few.
Joanne is a 24-year resident of Westford and is invested in giving back by volunteering her skills to serve on the Board of Health. I have witnessed her ability to listen to all sides of an issue, contributing to the board with her expertise, and deliberating as a member of the team to come to fair and balanced decisions that represent the best interests of the community’s public health. She has the skills to understand the regulations that the board must enforce, the concerns of stakeholders on each issue, and the established principles that drive these decisions.
Joanne demonstrates the epitome of one willing to volunteer her skills, time and energy to the betterment of all. Please join me in supporting Joanne for election to the Board of Health. Please take the time to get out and vote on May 2. This is a contested election and I believe that when we have such a credentialed candidate willing to serve, we should vote her in to benefit the town of Westford! — Michele Pitoniak Crawford, chairman of the Westford Board of Health
