MONTAGUE — Orange Health Agent Ashley Gough has been tapped to be Montague’s next director of public health.
The Montague Selectboard approved hiring Gough on Monday with a $75,858 salary. Her first day on the job will be Jan. 12.
“Ashley has been our selection as the new health director and we’re excited that she has signed the contract,” Board of Health Chair Melanie Ames Zamojski said. “We are happy to welcome her aboard in January.”
Gough replaces former Public Health Director Ryan Paxton, who resigned in November after two and a half years in the role to take a job as health director for Eastern Hampden Shared Public Health Services.
Gough has worked as Orange’s health agent since 2023. Prior to that, she was a wellness coordinator for LifePath. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and African American studies from Smith College.
In her cover letter to the Montague Board of Health, Gough wrote that she has more than a decade of experience in human services and public health, and that she understands how to enforce health codes and build trust in the community.
“In my current role, I lead inspections and regulatory compliance efforts across a wide range of public health areas, including housing, food service, nuisance and environmental health,” she wrote. “I am well-versed in interpreting and applying the Massachusetts Code of Regulations and General Laws as they relate to public health, and I regularly balance enforcement responsibilities with education and partnership-building to ensure both compliance and community trust.
“Montague’s commitment to public service, community well-being and responsive local
governance strongly aligns with my own values as a public health professional,” Gough continued. “I would welcome the opportunity to contribute my experience, leadership and dedication to further strengthen the town’s public health infrastructure and services.”
Gough currently holds a Public Health Foundations Certificate. She is also certified through ServSafe, as a pool operator, in emergency management systems and through the MA PHIT (Public Health Inspector Training) Food course. However, she will need to become a registered sanitarian, a licensed Title V inspector and a soil inspector within the first year of her contract with Montague.
After being selected by the Board of Health to succeed Paxton, Gough’s contract went to the Selectboard for final approval. The approved contract is for three years, expiring in January 2029, with the option to extend further. The public health director is a 35-hour-a-week position, Monday through Thursday.
“You’ve met with the Board of Health and they have voted to appoint you as the next director of the Health Department, which is their right and duty as the board,” Selectboard Chair Matt Lord told Gough during Monday’s Selectboard meeting. “However, as the Personnel Department, the Selectboard is responsible for setting wages and whatnot.”
The Selectboard unanimously approved hiring Gough at Grade C, Step 3 of the town’s wage and classification scale, equaling $75,858, with salary and cost-of-living increases at the beginning of the next fiscal year in July.
“Welcome aboard,” Selectboard member Richard Kuklewicz said.