LONGMEADOW – The Town of Longmeadow is in the process of searching for a new health director since the departure of Beverly Hirschhorn in December.

Town Manager Lyn Simmons said that though the job had been posted and interviews conducted before Hirschhorn’s retirement, none of the applicants were selected for the position. The job was reposted at the beginning of January and Simmons said that she will be conducting more interviews over the first weeks of February.

In 2020, when Longmeadow became aware of the impending vacancy in the health director position, a proposal for a joint health department with East Longmeadow was pursued. However, that idea was voted down by East Longmeadow at its Dec. 15 Town Council meeting. Simmons said that the town is now considering a joint health department option elsewhere.

“We are definitely open to exploring any sharing of public health opportunities,” Simmons said. “We’re continuing a conversation with other Hampden County communities who find themselves looking for a public health professional.”

One challenge for such as Longmeadow is a lack of public health professionals, Simmons said. “Sharing resources is the future of public health,” she added.

Longmeadow also has a vacancy for a public health nurse, though Simmons said there is no plan to fill that position at this time.