SALEM — The mayor's plan for a pilot program regionalizing the health departments in Peabody and Salem met heavy criticism from the Board of Health last night.

Board members are in the process of hiring a new health agent to replace Joanne Scott. At the same time, Mayor Kim Driscoll has asked the board to delay those plans while Peabody and Salem officials consider a potential merger between the two health departments.

Because of state cuts, Driscoll said the city must close an $836,000 budget gap by July 1 and a $2.4 million hole next year. Regionalizing could result in savings, she has said.

Board members said Driscoll plans to cut the health department budget this year by $80,000, essentially the cost of a full-time health agent.

Janet Mancini has been the acting health agent since Scott left in August, but some members want a permanent health agent in place sooner rather than later. Driscoll asked the board to hold off until mid-March while the two cities explore the logistics of a pilot program.

"I think the mayor has made deliberate attempts to delay the process," said board member Carol Rainville. "... By not hiring a health agent, are we still safeguarding Salem?"

Mancini said the health department is already facing a staff shortage.

"If someone takes a vacation day, I'm answering phones," Mancini said.

Rainville had other reservations, including whether the city would be ready to respond to a health emergency, like an outbreak, if the two departments regionalized.

"When a patient flatlines, do you really want the doctor to be in the other hospital?" Rainville said.

Others, however, were more conscious of the city's budget problems.

Board member Barbara Poremba wondered whether the department should hire a new health agent with severe budget cuts looming, which could lead to layoffs.

"I don't want to hire someone that we're going to have to fire," she said.

The city has imposed a hiring freeze on all vacant full-time positions. Health board members said they aren't sure whether the hiring freeze applies to their board, which hires and fires the health agent on its own.

Meanwhile, it's still unclear whether Peabody's Board of Health is receptive to the idea. It meets later this month.