Albany County personnel committee confirms nominee for health commissioner, waives residency rule

The Albany County Personnel Committee during a special meeting confirmed Dr. Navarropp as commissioner of the Department of Health, approved a waiver of the county residency requirement for the post and amended the 2025 Albany County budget.

The committee’s action comes as county leaders pointed to Navarropp’s clinical and public-health experience, including prior work at the New York State Department of Health and as an assistant professor of pediatrics at Albany Med. A county executive’s office representative said the office was ‘‘very confident in doctor Navarropp coming on board’’ after a nationwide search.

Navarropp told the committee she plans to work the standard 37.5 hours per week in the commissioner role, continue a limited clinical teaching/precepting commitment at Albany Med of roughly three hours per week and be available on-call as needed. "Serving the community and the public has really been a passion of mine, and there would be no greater honor than to serve in this role, particularly at this really critical time in public health," Navarropp said.

Committee members asked about the nominee’s current clinical duties and the time commitment. Navarropp said her clinical teaching role includes direct patient care and that she has previously balanced clinical and public-health duties by flexing her schedule. Committee members also asked about salary; the committee discussed a $250,000 salary figure for the post, and a member said the previous health director’s pay was "not specified" at the meeting and that staff would provide that history on request.

The county executive’s office representative told the committee that the office conducted a nationwide search with candidates from as far as Ohio and that Navarropp’s mix of state public-health experience during COVID, hospital practice at Albany Med and private-insurance experience made the nominee a ‘‘very well rounded candidate.’’ The representative added that the office requested a residency waiver for the position.

Committee member Napier moved to waive the residency requirement and to nominate Navarropp; the motion was seconded by Maggie Alex. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the record shows committee members in favor and no opposition announced. The committee then adjourned.

The committee did not provide a roll-call tally in the transcript. Staff indicated they could provide the previous health director’s salary on request.

The committee discussed only the single item on its agenda: confirmation of the health commissioner nominee, the residency-waiver request and an amendment to the 2025 Albany County budget related to the appointment.