Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 111307MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 November 13, 2007 ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life, promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County community. THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON November 13, 2007 at the Whitted Human Services Building, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Matt Vizithum, Chair; Chris Harlan, Vice-Chair; Jim Stefanadis; Sharon Van Horn; Ernie Dobson; Jessica Lee; DeWana Anderson; BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Sharon Freeland; Anissa Vines; Tim Carey; Moses Carey, Jr., meeting conflict; STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Wayne Sherman, Personal Health Services Division Director; Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Services Division Director; Donna King, Health Promotion and Education Services Division Director; Angela Cooke, Dental Health Services Division Director; Anne Miles Cassell, Administrative Assistant; Pamela Diggs, Senior Public Health Educator GUESTS PRESENT: None I. Welcome and Introductions Matt Vizithum called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Rosemary Summers introduced Pam Diggs, Senior Public Health Educator, Teen Tobacco Coordinator for the Health and Wellness Trust Grant working with both school systems. II. Approval of November 13, 2007 Agenda The motion to approve the Agenda of November 13, 2007 was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Sharon Van Horn, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of October 24, 2007 meeting. B. Records Retention Policy Approval The State Health Director approved The State/Local Health Department Records Retention & Disposition Schedule on September 7, 2007. The NC Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Historical Resources, Archives & Records Section, Government Records Branch issue this schedule. The Schedule covers areas such as: audits and litigation involving public records, destruction of records, electronic records and digital imaging, microfilm, and disaster assistance. Types of records included in the retention and disposition schedule are: budget, fiscal and payroll; legal, personnel, risk management; client financial records; MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 November 13, 2007 and records that cover all health department programs such as child, maternal, environmental, and vital records. The Department produces or acquires many types of records that are included in this schedule and will seek to incorporate the most recent guidance into the daily practices of the Health Department. The Board of Health agrees to delegate responsibility for compliance of this schedule to the Health Director and her designees. C. Additional Funds The State Legislature approved one-time funding to certified Healthy Carolinians coalitions during last year’s legislative session. The Department applied for and received notice of award for $12,048, the maximum allowed. The funds will be used to prepare an executive summary of the community health assessment and provide funds for each implementation committee in the selected priority areas to implement a portion of their plan. The State Family Planning and Reproductive Health Unit is making available additional Title X funding to local health departments for family planning services. The distribution includes a base amount for all counties of $833 and an additional amount to be determined by performance. The budgeted allocation for the Health Department is $3,473. The Department requested the Board’s approval of acceptance of these funds to be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for their action. Motion to approve the minutes of October 24, 2007 and all items on the Consent Agenda was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. On-Site Wastewater Rules Adoptions Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes 130A-335, the Orange County Board of Health has adopted by reference, 15A NCAC 18A.1900 et seq., rules governing sewage treatment and disposal systems (or, the “state rules”). The Board has also adopted rules that are more stringent in certain areas of wastewater system evaluation, design, installation, monitoring, and operation. Tom Konsler reported that since the last adoption of the state rules, the North Carolina Commission for Health Services has amended those rules. These are basically editorial changes in response to changes in state law. The purpose of this proposed adoption of the state rules by the Orange County Board of Health is to incorporate those recent changes in the state rules and to retain all of the former local rules that are more stringent than the state rules. The amendments to the state rules include: o the addition of several terms in the definition section, o an additional method of determining soil wetness by water table monitoring MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3 November 13, 2007 (affecting coastal plain counties), o an additional modified drain field called the sand-lined trench system, o a process for innovative and experimental system approvals by the state, o revised performance and testing requirements for advanced treatment units, and o other minor technical amendments and updates. Current state rules can be viewed at: http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/osww_new/new1/images/Rules/1900RulesJune2006. pdf Motion to adopt the NC On-Site Wastewater Rules and forward the resolution of adoption to the NCDENR was made by Ernie Dodson, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. B. 2006-2007 Annual Activity Report The Board received the annual activity report for the previous fiscal year in order to prepare for the beginning of budget preparation for the next fiscal year. Rosemary Summers distributed additional information including a communicable disease report for FY 06-07. These are all laboratory confirmed cases. Sharon Van Horn inquired if MRSA was a reportable disease. Dr. Summers replied that at this time MRSA is not reportable. Matt Vizithum asked how communicable disease cases were reported to the Health Department. Dr. Summers and Wayne Sherman explained the reporting system. Chris Harlan asked if these statistics were pretty typical or showed an increase or decrease over prior years. The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever has risen over the years but it is not known if this is due to increased public awareness and reporting. Matt Vizithum asked how many of the TB cases reported were from the jail. There were several that fell within FY 06-07 that had numerous contacts that required follow-up. One difficulty staff faced was being able to keep track of an individual once they were released. Dr. Summers also explained that the definition of an outbreak is a higher rate than normal for reported cases and the statistics have remained stable for the recent years. Sharon Van Horn asked if there has been any reported influenza cases. Rosemary Summers explained that Orange County has not received any reported cases from the sentinel sites and that there were more sentinel sites statewide than previous years. C. 2008 Board of Health Meeting Schedule As part of its operating procedures the Board has chosen to set a regular meeting schedule for an entire year to enable maximum Board participation at meetings. The draft schedule takes into account evenings that have already been scheduled for Board of Commissioner meetings. The schedule also takes into account the one year need for the Health Director to be present at North Carolina Association of Local Heal Director meetings as the President. The Board usually alternates meeting locations between the northern and southern MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 November 13, 2007 ends of the county. The Government Services Center location in Hillsborough will be undergoing renovations during much of the year and possibly will not be available for our use. Staff is currently looking for alternative meeting sites. Motion to approve the Board of Health 2008 meeting schedule as proposed was made by Chris Harlan, seconded by Ernie Dodson, and carried without dissent. D. Request for Joint Meeting with BOCC for 2008 In planning the 2008 meeting calendar it was proposed that the Board of Health consider requesting a joint meeting with the Commissioners for the fall of 2008. The proposed date is October 14, 2008, which is on the Board of Commissioner’s schedule as a possible dinner meeting with an advisory board. The Board felt that the fall would be the best time as budget planning begins for the next fiscal year. Motion to approve a request for a joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners for October 14, 2008 was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Chris Harlan and carried without dissent. E. Follow-up from Joint Meeting with BOCC This agenda item was provided to allow for discussion among Board of Health members following a joint meeting with the Board of County Commissioners earlier in the evening. Jim Stefanadis asked why the joint meeting was limited to only 1 hour. Rosemary Summers replied that it has typically been 1 hour in the past. Longer time items are done in work sessions but limited to one topic and discussion only on that topic. Matt Vizithum expressed appreciation for the fact sheets provided by staff. Chris Harlan felt the Board needed to have more of a philosophical discussion with the Commissioners because one Commissioner after the joint meeting expressed to her the opinion that the Health Department should be the voice of the underserved. Chris stated that the elected officials, not the Health Department, should be the voice of the public that elected them. Ernie Dodson said he felt that the Commissioners were aware of the healthcare needs and it should not be up to the Board of Health to lobby to get them to address this need. The Board is an advisory board and its job is to present their recommendations to the Commissioners. Chris Harlan commented that the majority who are very well off have blinders on and it is difficult for them to understand that their quality of life would improve if everybody else’s also improved. F. Informational Items Biosolids Study Update: Environmental Health staff, along with Dr. Chip Simmons (UNC School of Public Health) met with the Burlington Director of Utilities and Synagro, the company that contracts to apply their biosolids in Orange County. All parties agreed that this would be a worthwhile study and Burlington and Synagro agreed to participate in the pilot project. In October, a meeting was set up with two of the three landowners in Orange County MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 5 November 13, 2007 where Burlington’s biosolids are spread. One dairy farmer was willing to consider participation, but wanted to think about it for a while. The second landowner, a beef cattle farmer was immediately agreeable and gave permission for the study to begin, however after he thought about it, called back and expressed concerns that his neighbor may end up suing him should the study result in any negative indicators about biosolids activity. He did not believe anything detrimental would be found, but he is not willing to take the risk given the tenacity of the neighbors in the area. Matt Vizithum asked why a lawsuit would be a feared reprisal for allowing the study. Tom Konsler and Rosemary Summers replied that the neighbors have been quite vocal about the issue. Staff has discussed potential alternative sites with Synagro. There is only one other farm in Orange County on which Burlington has a permitted site. In the event that landowner is not willing, staff is making initial contacts with the City of Mebane to explore their willingness to participate. Legislative Update: The State has passed a law that all local government buildings would be tobacco free. County ordinances only apply in unincorporated areas. Municipalities may also designate all municipal public buildings to be smoke free. Rosemary Summers explained that the Board of Health could go back and readdress this issue to be all-inclusive. The county attorney is currently studying it and a draft will be prepared. She also stated that the county’s group health insurer, Cigna, would now cover smoking cessation assistance. Accreditation Update: The Accreditation Site Visit Team is scheduled to be on site April 29 through May 1, 2008. The Health Department Self-Assessment Instrument is due on March 7, 2008. The Accreditation Team has been meeting bi-weekly to ensure that the department has the policies and practices in place to meet the activities, standards, and benchmarks. Rosemary Summers pointed out additional informational items, news articles, and correspondence to the Board’s attention. G. Tracking Form Review The Tracking Form had no changes. This form is to allow the Board a snapshot of upcoming items. VI. Board Comments/Announcements A. None VII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be a dinner meeting held on December 20, 2007 at the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina beginning at 6:30 PM. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH November 13, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 6 November 13, 2007 Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board