HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-01-2013 - 5eORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 1, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -e
SUBJECT: Approval of a New Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Position
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services & Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Darshan Patel, 919 - 245 -6135
James Groves, 919 - 245 -6140
Dr. Colleen Bridger, 919 - 245 -2412
Clarence Grier, 919 - 245 -2453
1
PURPOSE: To approve a new Public Health Preparedness Coordinator position (1.0 FTE) in
Orange County as a shared position between Emergency Services (.50 FTE) and the Health
Department (.50 FTE).
BACKGROUND: Over the past several years, through the work of the Public Health
Preparedness Coordinator, Orange County has developed an outstanding public health
emergency preparedness program. This position works closely with Emergency Services (ES)
Division of Emergency Management and other first responders to coordinate emergency
preparedness needs in the County.
The Public Health Preparedness Coordinator is responsible for: developing and implementing
mutual aid agreements to support National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant
public health response; working in conjunction with Emergency Services to use and maintain
incident management systems for local events and response activities; developing and
maintaining OSHA compliant respiratory protection programs as offered by the Public Health
Regional Surveillance Team; updating county Strategic National Stockpile plans in accordance
with the most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance; and working with
Emergency Services to update and maintain the Emergency Operations Plan.
Historically the Health Department has contracted with the Person County Health Department to
carry out the duties of the position while working closely with ES and other first responders
within the County. Up until June 2013 when the position in Person County became vacant, the
Health Department had a contract with Person County that outlined deliverables and position
duties. Salary and benefits of the Public Health Preparedness Coordinator was split between
the two counties at 50 %, with the Orange County portion being covered by budgeted state grant
funds. As a result of the vacancy, Person County will be creating its own 1.0 FTE to handle
public health preparedness and response duties within Person County. Upon approval of this
request, Orange County will have the same structure in place.
Emergency Services has an excellent working relationship with the Health Department and
sharing an Emergency Services position with Health would help bolster that coordination at a
nominal cost. Both departments have a vested interest in seeing emergency preparedness
across the County continue to flourish, and this would be an opportunity to share a
preparedness resource within the County instead of with another county.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The annual cost of the new position is $60,300, which includes salary
and benefits and operations. For FY 2013 -14, the salary and benefit costs will be $40,200 for
the period of November 1, 2013 — June 30, 2014. Traditionally, the Health Department has
paid 50% in salary and benefits of the position using state Public Health Preparedness Grant
Funds budgeted in the department's Contract Services account. If approved, those funds would
be transferred from contract services to salary and benefits to cover the costs of the .50 FTE in
Health.
Funds for salary and benefits of $20,100 and $5,000 for one -time start -up costs would also
need to be approved for the remaining 50% portion of the position in Emergency Services. If
approved, staff would bring back an appropriation of $25,100 from the General Fund's
Unassigned Fund Balance to cover the remaining 50% cost of the position as part of the
standard budget amendment agenda item at the Board's October 15, 2013 regular meeting.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board approve the new
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator (1.0 FTE) shared by Emergency Services (.50 FTE)
and in the Health Department (.50 FTE), noting a proposed appropriation of $25,100 from the
General Fund's Unassigned Fund Balance to cover the remaining 50% cost of the position in
Emergency Services for FY 2013 -14.
Upon approval from the Board, the transfer of $25,100 from the General Fund's Unassigned
Fund Balance into Emergency Services' budget will be included as a Budget Amendment item
at the October 15, 2013 Board of Commissioners meeting.