“Off the Charts” – Former MassDEP official fills Board of Health vacancy after unanimous support from selectmen

By Mark E. Vogler

SAUGUS – A retired state environmental official with close to three decades of experience is the latest addition to the town’s Board of Health. The Board of Selectmen at Tuesday night’s (Dec. 19) meeting confirmed the appointment of Joseph Dorant on a unanimous 5-0 vote to bring the five-member board back up to full strength. Dorant, a longtime Saugus resident, fills the unexpired term of the board’s chair, Bill Heffernan, who resigned in late October to accept a job promotion that involves extensive worldwide travel.

“Joseph Dorant served the public for more than 25 years as an environmental engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said in a statement yesterday.

“For many years Joe served on an important inter-agency task force responsible for investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes. After retiring from DEP, he continued to serve the public as President of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES). He is a longtime resident of Saugus,” the town manager said.

Crabtree said Dorant’s extensive environmental experience and background are “off the charts” and make him one of the most experienced candidates to be appointed to the board in recent memory.

“I was thrilled when I received his letter of interest to serve on the Saugus Board of Health and I applaud the Board of Selectmen for confirming his appointment,” Crabtree said.

“Joe brings a wealth of knowledge in environmental protection, public health, water resources and extensive knowledge of state regulations that will be invaluable to the residents and businesses of Saugus,” he said.

Dorant had expressed an interest previously in serving on the Board of Health. But there weren’t any vacant seats at the time. He has a Master’s of Science degree in environmental engineering from Northeastern University. He received a Bachelor of Science-Biology degree from Boston State College (UMass).

He retired in 2006 from the DEP after working for 28 years.

“As an environmental engineer at DEP, my career concentrates on environmental health in a regulatory role, protecting our precious resources and enforcing our environmental laws,” Dorant wrote in his letter of interest to the town manager.

“In my leadership role as President of MOSES, representing scientists and engineers across the Commonwealth, I’ve worked closely with state and local Public Health officials,” he said.

Dorant’s appointment is through December 2025.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, selectmen voted to confirm the reappointment of Joia Cicolini, Maria Tamagna, Geraldine Gatchell and Dr. Anthony Bakopolus. Cicolini and Vice Chair Tamagna were appointed to serve through Dec. 31, 2026. The reappointments of Gatchell and Bakopolus are through December 2025 and December 2024, respectively.

The Board of Health meets monthly, usually on the first Monday of each calendar month at the Saugus Public Library. Dates are subject to change.

The Board’s role is to promote the health and wellness of all Saugus residents through the prevention and control of disease and injury. The Board of Health’s responsibilities include a wide spectrum of activities involving environmental and public health concerns, conducting inspections and investigations to maintain local and federal code compliance for the following permitted establishments: animal keepers, body art practitioners, food establishments, mobile home parks, mobile food vendors, motels, recreational camps, swimming pools, tanning salons, temporary food events, trash & septic haulers.