The first selectman of Southbury, Mark A. R. Cooper, today was named public health director for the Westport Weston Health District.
Mark A. R. Cooper: First Selectman of Southbury has health background. File photo
The District’s board’s appointment of Cooper, effective next month, is subject to approval by the state Department of Public Health.
Cooper succeeds Sue Jacozzi, who has served in the post since August 2005. (See WestportNow Aug. 29, 2005)
At today’s board of directors meeting, Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff praised Jacozzi for her service to the District and said he looked forward to working with Cooper.
“Sue has gone above and beyond on so many occasions,” he said. “We very much appreciate her efforts and wish her well.
“I especially look forward to working with Mark Cooper because of his experience as a fellow first selectman.”
Cooper, who has a background in public health, has been first selectman of Southbury, a town of about 19,000 in western New Haven County, since December 2001.
Prior to becoming first selectman, he served for 15 years in the Newtown Health District, first as director of environmental health (1986 to 1993) and then as director of health (1993-2001).
He holds B.S. and Master of Public Health degrees from the University of Connecticut.
In Southbury, he has also served on the Southbury Water Pollution Control Authority and the Inland Wetland Commission.
He is a former chairman of the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley and serves as a director of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority.
