Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1977020164 MIDTUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FEBRUARX 1, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday, February 1, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Members present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. Others present were S. M. Gatos, County Administrator, Neal Evans, County Finance Director, and Agathat Johnson, Clerk. The Chairman stated that the purpose of the meeting tonight was to reach a consensus of how Orange County thinks the District Health Depart- ment can be strengthened in order for Orange County to remain in the District. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he felt it would be useful to highlight some of the basic conerns which had been pointed out to the District Health Board. He suggested that the Board look at the present District Health structure and haw it should be in the future and then look at a single county structure and decide which structure would best meet the needs of Orange County. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he felt the health needs of Orange County could be met by either structure, the District Health arrangement or a single county district. He added that his question was how to re- structure the present District Board to be certain they are responsive to the needs of citizens. He sited one of the problems with the District Health Board is the lack of administrative leadership. He added that the composition makeup of the Board should reflect the population of Orange County, which he felt should be 35 percent. There was discussion of methods of re-organizing the present Board. Mr. Willhoit suggested that a search committee be formed, composed of appointees by the School of Public Health, Schaol of Medicine and one appointee from each of the five counties within the District to work to find a new Health Director. Another concern Mr. Willhoit pointed out was the need to seek a better working relationship with the UNC Schools of Public Health and Medicine. To utilize more fully the resources available from these schools. He suggested that a task force be organized to explore how the District can use these resources in order that both the Counties and the university could mutually benefit. Commissioner Walker informed the Board that the District Health Board would make certain recommendations to the County at the February 2nd meeting. He stated that the District Health Board had made it clear that Orange County would not control the district. Discussion ensued regarding the membership to the District Board based on the populations of the five counties. Some members of the Orange County Board stated that they felt Orange County should have 35 percent representation to the District Board of Health. a Commissioner Gustaveson stated that the heart of the problem was that Orange County was a rapidly growing County with various health problems and changing situations. Also, Orange County has citizens who are concerned abeut these problems, the health care, and the pro- grams within the County. He stated that he was wondering if a sati- factorily situation could be worked out so that the unique needs of each of the Counties could be taken into account. Commissioner Willhoit stated that the Board of Health in conjunc- tion with the different counties should specify and offer program which are carried on. The District Health Board then should offer ideas and ways to meet these needs and then further evaluate the needs of the community. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that the Board should take a leader- ship role in pursuing the needs and ideas of good health delivery. He 65 added that this is a continuing process, and asked what assurance do we have that this Board of Health is the Board to do what we ask? Discussion ensued between Commissioners Gustaveson and Walker con- . cerning the different policies and the philosophy which the Board of Health should have. Commissioner Walker stated that'he felt the Board was pursuing the health needs of citizens, that the measure of effective- ness depended an the philosophy of the Berard . Commissioner Gustaveson stated that there was a feeling that this body, which is a public body, is not actively involved in setting policy. He added that erne of his problems was how to move from a Board which was used to working one particular way in the past and which now must make a change to be•active and take seriously the concerns of citizens. Commissioners Walker responded that the District Board was trying to do the things which had been pointed out. He added that the Orange County Board must take the District Health Berard on their word. Commissioner Pinney stated that as long as Orange County was getting its share of programs and services, it could form its own mini-board and work with this arrangement. Other concerns which Mr. Gustaveson pointed out were the serious problems with inter-agency coeperation, and the high turn over of per- sonnel within the Health District. He said there were structural pro- blems in the administration in terms of how the staff is involved in carrying on programs and in staff training. Commissioner Walker stated that the Board should decide if its concerns were health needs, the philosophy of the Board, administrative, or what. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that all of these issues should be concerns of the District Board. Chairman Whitted stated that with the responsibility of the Cammis- sioners to appropriate monies to the District Health Department on an annual basis, that the local Boards should have some indication of how effective programs are. He added that information of this sort is not being received and the Commissioners have no way to measure the effec- tiveness of health services in Orange County. The Chairman stated further that with all the discussions with the District Board, they still failed to see the problems. He continued that just one problem can nvt be cited, there is a broader range of problems. Commissioner Pinney suggested that an outside evaluation be made of the programs within the District Health Department. Mr. Gustaveson stated that there were State Consultant Teams available to undertake studies of this type. Commissioner Gustaveson summarized at this point, what problems had been cited thus far by Commissioner Willhoit and the solutions: 1. Lack of administrative leadership. Solution - The Nixing of a professional health director. 2. Need for an active policy making Board of Health with 35 percent representation for Orange County. Solution - To adolish or re- organize the present Board and establish an active Board. 3. The slowness of hiring a Health Director. Solution - to establish a Search Committee to find a competent Health Director. 4. Failure to utilize available resources of UNC Schools of Public Health, Medicine and Nursing. Solution - To organize a task force to explore ways in which the district can utilize these resources so that both the University and the District would mutually benefit. Commissioner Gustaveson proceeded to add to the list the following: 5. The problem of Tnter-agency cooperation between Health Depart- ment personnel and other service agencies within the community. ss Solution - An active Board of Health would be aware of these problems and establish and enforce a practical policy designed to prevent this situation. 6. There is a problem with policy concerning staff training within the Health Department. Solution - Establish a policy and develop a budget item designed to implement staff training. 7. The problem of providing environmental services through the Health Department was pointed out by Commissioner Willhoit. He stated that he would like to see an engineer rehired to provide back-up technical knowledge, particularly in view of the Subdivision Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance which the County proposes to enforce County-wide. $. Commissioner Willhoit pointed out that salaries of the employees within the District should be raised to attract and maintain com- petent personnel. Solution - Funds must be committed from the other counties to provide this to personnel. 9. Commissioner Pinney requested that an outside evaluation of the effectiveness of the District Health Department's programs be undertaken. Solution - To request an outside evaluation of the Department's programs. 10. Commissioner Pinney stated that a financial commitment from the other four counties to salve the financial portion of the problems cited. Solution - Funds must be committed from member counties over a reasonable period of time. Discussion ensued regarding the method of presenting these concerns to the District Health Board. Chairman Whitted stated that the two keys would be the hiring of a Health Director and an active governing Board. If the Board of Health agreed to these two items, the other concerns would fall in place. He added that he felt these concerns could be answered quickly, and if these two things are accomplished, Orange County could agree not to withdraw as of July, 1977. Members of the Board agreed to list these concerns and solutions in a letter tc be sent to the Chairmen o£ the Boards of Commissioners of Caswell, Chatham, Lee, and Person Counties with copies going to the District Health Board and the District Health Director. The letter should state that Orange County is sensitive to the positions of the remaining counties in the District, however, our prime concern must focus on what the Commissioners feel is in the best interest of Orange County. The letter should also state that the Chairman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners will schedule a meeting within the next two weeks with the Chairmen of the other four Boards to discuss appropriate action. Orange County will then decide whether to remain in or withdraw from the district. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit, it was moved that the Chairman sign a letter listing these con- cerns and solutions and that the letter be sent to the Chairmen of the four Boards. The Chairman called far the vote on the motion. Voting aye were Commissioners Gustaveson, Pinney, Willhoit and [4hitted. Voting nay was Commissioner Walker. The Chairman declared the motion passed. In other discussion, the County Manager requested the Board's authori- zation to enclose a porch at the East entrance to the Courthouse and to install a set of doors to seal off the back entrance to the Courthouse. Upon motion of Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, it was moved and adopted tc authorize the County Manager to proceed with necessary renovations to the entrances of the Courthouse. The Fiannace Director presented to the Board a draft of a Budget Calendar for the Board tc comment an the first Manday in February. The Chairman asked that the Board members review the calendar and decide what agencies they with to talk with and the information that is needed. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded y Commissioner Walker, the meeting was adjourned. v u' I~ Richard E. Whitted, Chairman Agatha Johnson, Clerk