Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-07
SILK Tells Of
DENTAL CLINIC
President of Health Board
Explains Action of Body in
the Matter

A communication received by tn.
Evening News from DIR. Charles l..
Silk, president of the Board or
Health, explains the action of that
body in declaring that the Sentai
clinic cannot be operated On full .im.
for an appropriation of $4,000. as
has been suggested. According TO
the communication it will cost in
the neighborhood of $~5,940.66 to p
crate the clinic on full time a year,
the figures being based on the
amount spent in operating the clinic
for 1921 on an eight hour per week
basis of ten months, which We
$900.14. Other interesting facts 4
connection with the operation of the
clinic are also given.
The communication follows:
Editor Evening News:
In order t. correct certain errone-
Gus impressions made upon the pub
lie mind, by reading what purports
to be a news item upon the dental
clinic, appearin in the Evening
News under date of Jan. ~, as well
as an editorial on Jan. 2S, based
upon the same news article. the
health board finds it necessary e
Gle " the situation by stating the
laws CAcNLsS d. tuSJ ~
plications are:
That the BOARD of Health intends
to run the dental clinic on part time
only, thereby neglecting it to the
extent of it's becoming useless or
eliminated entirely.
That $4,000 was expressly approc
priated for that purpose, a sum n
tirely adequate to run such a clinic
on a full time basis with figures to
prove It.
That the Board of Health has
broken faith with the. dental clinic
committee.
That a competent operator has
been secured by the dental associa-
ton for the clinic. when the Board
of Health refused to accept.
The facts r as follows:
Tie Board of Health is more than
willing to operat. the clinic on full
time and asks the cooperation and
advice of tat dental clinic commit
tee, but to be dictated to; that is
not cooperation.
T here quote a motion which was
passed at q meeting of the Board of
Health and ca b found in the Minis
utes Cor Jan. "a, 1922. *
"That the chairman of the clinic
committee be empowered to operate
the clinic Tor three full days a week,
to be increased to full time as soon
as possible"
-Four Thousand dollars is made
quate to operate the clinic for a
year on full time oasis. inasmuch
as the total expense of the clinic for
1921 or all eight hour per week bas-
is of ten months, was S900.14 Copper
ator $500, nurse's2SS.50 and supplies
S116.61. not including rent.) At this
rate it would cost ~$5,940.66 per an
NUM- on a fuii time basis.
With $4,000 for an operator. ST.
200 for a nurse and $500 for rent
of clinic. which this board pays
there is still IN estimated item OF
$641 for supplies, which cannot be
cared for with a $4,000 %approprih-
ton. These figures do not take
into consideration. any follow up
work, which we are pleased 90 know
the school nurses will assist in.
There was no intention at any time
breaking faith with anyone by TINS
board, as shown by above motion.
No competent operator has been
secured for the clinic on a full time
basis, nor does the board know of
any person who has made applica-
ton to fill this position.
In 1921. the appropriation to the
Boardlof Health was $2S.500 and an
emergency bond of $500. makins
a total of $4,000. For 1922, the
sum of $27,500 was granted. II
$4,000 is to be used for the dental
| clinic and the same work to be done
| as in 1921. we will face the follow
ing deficits. which We're not consid-
cred in the 1929 appropriation:
$500 for deferred bills, incurred liz
1921, $1,000 for one addition1;
| nurse appointed by the 1891 boardl
$641 for dental supplies, $500 ener-
gency bond a total of $S,841. I'm
| less assurances are given that this
| sum is forthcoming. every ono must
/ agree that we have most compelling
reasons fo- being extremely cautious
with our expenditures.
Yours respectfully,
PERTH AMBOY BID OF HEALTH.
CHAS. I. SILK,
President.