A Conversation With Oakland Board of Health Secretary And Registrar Karin Kennedy Dubowick
Meet Karin Kennedy Dubowick, the Board of Health Secretary and Registrar of Vital Statistics.
In this question-and-answer exchange, Dubowick talks about her journey to her current position, what Oakland residents need to know about keeping vital records and genealogical information for their family and selling their home when they have a septic system.
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. My family and I moved to Franklin Lakes in the early 50’s when the town was still populated with farms. Having only 2,000 residents at the time, the town wasn’t yet on the map and 208 was just a dirt road. The night we moved, we went out to dinner at the Hansen House which is now known as Portobello Banquets.
My synchronous connection to Oakland would continue into high school. The one and only time I skipped school during my entire school career was two weeks before the end of my Junior year of high school. Driving with three friends through Oakland, sitting atop the back of the car because there was no back seat, one of Oakland’s finest who was directing traffic at the bottom of Yawpo Avenue pulled us over. He quickly blew a hole right through our excuse for not being in school. We followed him to the police station and were reported to the principal. Never having been in trouble before, I escaped having the incident reported to my parents. Little did I know at the time I would someday, many years later, be working in that same spot.
Q. When did you move to Oakland?
A. I moved to Oakland in 1983 and my son Michael was born in 1986. He was well-prepared for college by the education he received from the Oakland school system.
Q. When did you start working in your department?
A. I took a part-time job at the Board of Health in 1992 with the intention of eventually returning to the corporate world. In 2000, I was appointed Secretary to the Board and Registrar of Vital Statistics.
Though I no longer live in Oakland, it still feels like home since I spend the bulk of my waking hours here. I enjoy interacting with and assisting the residents I encounter each day.
Q. What are your primary duties?
A. As registrar, I am responsible for processing and maintaining vital records of births, marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships and deaths that occur in Oakland and issuing certified copies of those records, all in accordance with state statutes. I issue marriage licenses, one of the more pleasant aspects of my job.
Q. What do you think are the lesser known parts of your job?
A. Most people do not realize that vital records are highly confidential and only certain people have access to them.
I would like residents to know that while you are still alive, it is vital to write down the full names (including maiden names) of parents and grandparents, dates and places of their births and marriages and keep the paper in a safe place with other valuable documents.
This information is required to obtain certified copies of records that will be needed later in life.
In fact, much of the unclaimed funds held by the state remains unclaimed as a result of not having the information required to obtain certified copies.
The same applies to unclaimed insurance policies. Without the information, a costly court order is required, which frequently exceeds the value of the unclaimed funds.
Q. How do you see your role?
A. As Secretary to the Board of Health, I see myself as a liaison between the community and the board.
At monthly meetings, Registered Environmental Health Specialist Kristin Caperino and I apprise the board members of activity that took place during the previous month and any matters that require the board’s decision or action.
My major responsibilities include managing the day-to-day activities in the office, preparing correspondence, sharing resources, doing research, transcribing minutes from monthly board meetings, and managing the Board of Health website. I also issue approximately 150 annual licenses, which all expire on December 31st and anywhere from 20 to 50 licenses for temporary events where food is served.
Much of the work I do is driven by the real estate market, the reason being that about 90 percent of the homes and all of the businesses in town are served by septic systems.
The majority of these systems were installed in the 1950’s and 1960’s and usually fail inspection at realty transfer.
So, fielding calls, answering e-mails and in-person inquiries from homeowners, realtors, engineers and attorneys takes up a good part of my day, especially during peak real estate season.
I want to remind property owners and realtors to always first check with the Health Department to be sure they are properly listing the dwelling because the number of bedrooms the septic was designed to serve MUST match the number of bedrooms in the listing.
Finding out as much as possible about the septic system on the property is important. Doing so can make a night-and-day difference in stress levels at closing time.
Q. What are examples of initiatives your department is working on?
A. Oakland contracts with Bergen County Department of Health Services for public health shared services and thus acts as Oakland’s official health department.
As far as initiatives are concerned, addressing the opioid crisis, preventing the spread of childhood diseases through vaccination and, with the warmer weather upon us, preventing tick bites and mosquito-borne diseases top the list of health education initiatives.
What many residents may not realize is that the Oakland Board of Health is an autonomous body and has the authority to enact and enforce codes. It is the only board with this kind of authority. This is important because public health decisions should not be influenced by changing politics.
Q. How do you see the borough of Oakland as a place to live and to work?
A. Oakland is a wonderful place in which to work and live. I enjoy going out on my lunch break for a walk on the walking path or doing Qi-Gong on the bank of the Ramapo River while taking in its energy and the wildlife in the area.
I recently spotted Bald Eagles down by the river and outside my window at work and find it exciting to see they are repopulating the area.
The school system and recreational sports opportunities for children are wonderful in town.
What impresses me most about Oakland, though, is the heart of its many amazing volunteers and what they have accomplished throughout the years. Thinking about retirement, which isn’t far away, the hardest transition I will make is losing the connections I have made to my colleagues, our residents, restaurant owners, contractors and many business professionals I have come to know and care about during the past 27 years.
Q. What are your hobbies and interests?
A. Knowing the importance of having something to retire to, I have spent the past 10 years of my free time developing interests and new skills.
I became a Reiki Master, a Certified Focusing Trainer and a wedding officiant. I co-lead a weekly meditation group that grew out of the Oakland Mayor’s Wellness Campaign and am currently immersed in the study of the Native American and aboriginal cultures’ approach to healing.
I also enjoy immersing myself in nature, capturing its peace and calm with my camera, playing the piano and ukulele, reading, meditating, and the utter sense of freedom that comes with skydiving.