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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 032207MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH March 22, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 March 22, 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 March 22, 2007 at the Government Services Center, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Matt Vizithum, Chair; Chris Harlan, Vice-Chair; Tim Carey; Jim Stefanadis; Sharon Van Horn; Ernie Dobson; BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Sharon Freeland; Anissa Vines, schedule conflict; Moses Carey, Jr., meeting conflict; DeWana Anderson, out of town; Jessica Lee, out of town 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; Letitia Burns, Business Officer; Anne Miles Cassell, Administrative Assistant; GUESTS PRESENT: None I. Board Orientation Part 3: Essential Services Rosemary Summers presented a Power Point program, “Understanding the Work of a Board of Health”, the ten essential services of public health and the Board of Health’s role. II. Welcome and Introductions Matt Vizithum called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. II. Approval of September 29, 2006 Agenda The motion to approve the Agenda of March 22, 2007 was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Tim Carey, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of February 22, 2007 meeting. Motion to approve the minutes of February 22, 2007 was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Tim Carey, and carried without dissent. B. Additional/New Funds Acceptance MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH March 22, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 March 22, 2007 Rosemary Summers reported that the Department has received notification of additional funds distribution by the state for Food, Lodging, and Institutional Inspection Program in the amount of $8,228.16. These funds will be used to purchase new desk units for the staff in anticipation of the move to the new building in 2008. The program is currently using furniture that is 25 to 30 years old. The Department received notification of additional federal Title X (family planning) funds distribution through the state, based on the number of patients seen in the previous year. The amount of $12,050 will be used for purchasing additional birth control methods and to defray the increase in costs for language line interpretation for family planning clients. The Department’s Volunteer Coordinator applied for and received a $10,000 grant from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) to support operational costs of the medical reserve corps. We anticipate delaying the use of these funds in 2007-2008 as operational cost support for this program. Motion to approve the acceptance of new funds and forward them to the Board of County Commissioners for approval was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. C. Approval of Annual Consolidated Agreement with NC Division of Public Health The Consolidated Agreement stipulates the provisions for receiving state and federal support for programs offered by the Department. Most programs are funded at the same levels approved for the current budget year; however, there are two funds that may have reductions. Health Promotion funds in the amount of $24,451 are dependent upon the inclusion of the preventive services federal block grant by the U.S. Congress. Public Health preparedness funds are anticipated to be reduced by 10% across the board to all counties, a loss of $5,600 for Orange County. Final guidance on budgetary amounts will be provided in July. Rosemary Summers reported that the state Consolidated Agreement is anticipated to provide $409,683 federal and state dollars to the county to provide specific services for the fiscal year 2007-2008. Each year supplemental funds become available during the fiscal year in various programs depending on state and federal action and on performance by the county. The total anticipated amount of funding as of July 1, 2007 represents less than 8% of the overall health department budget. Motion to approve the Consolidated Agreement and forward to the Board of County Commissioners for action was made by Tim Carey, seconded by Jim Stefanadis, and carried without dissent. V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. 2007-2008 Budget Approval MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH March 22, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3 March 22, 2007 The 2007-2008 budget request includes revenues, new position requests, capital operating requests, capital vehicles, and informational technology requests and has minimal operational cost increases. Rosemary Summers explained the requests and changes from the previous year. The main increase is in personnel costs for additional staff in environmental health and personal health primary care services as detailed at the February meeting. Tim Carey asked whether the personnel would only be available in Chapel Hill for primary care. It was noted that currently there is only the clinician in the Chapel Hill office and this is where an additional team is needed. The Hillsborough facility is too small for additional clinical teams. Sharon Van Horn asked how referrals were made to the department for nutrition care. Letitia Burns explained that the substantial cost increase in interpreter services is due to an increased demand for services in ten different languages. Orange County has become an international community and interpreter services are mandated through Title VI. The state only provides 4% of public health funding across the state however, the state mandates 80% of the services, and these are funded locally either through fees, reimbursements or tax dollars. Orange County is below the median among counties in terms of per capita funding for public health services. After the Board of Health approves the Health Department’s budget request it will be submitted to the county budget office that compiles the entire county budget for the manager’s consideration. The County Manager will send a budget request to the County Commissioners for consideration. Motion to approve the 2007-2008 budget request for the Health Department and forward to the Board of Commissioners for approval was made by Jim Stefanadis, seconded by Chris Harlan, and carried without dissent. B. Proposed Fee Adjustments for 2007-2008 There are substantial increases in fees proposed in the 2007-2008 Budget primarily to support the newly mandated requirements in the well program. The increase in fees will support the additional positions needed to perform the work of this state mandated service. If the staffing is not approved, there will likely be delays in services of 6 – 8 weeks. Services in dental health and personal health have applied the standard increase of the consumer price index (2.5%) to all fees in their structure in accordance with the Board adopted policy on fee and eligibility. Included are a few new fees for additional services primarily in primary care. The new fees have been used to calculate the revenue projections for the 2007- 2008 Budget. The final step in the approval of fees is with the Board of County Commissioners who approve MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH March 22, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 March 22, 2007 fees as part of the budget process. Motion to approve the fee adjustments and forward to the Board of Commissioners for approval was made by Chris Harlan, seconded by Tim Carey, and carried without dissent. C. Informational and Follow-up Items 1. Disparities Grant Application due March 30, 2007 Wayne Sherman reported that the focus of this grant effort would be to address two major areas of disparities: Infant Mortality and HIV/AIDS. The initiative will focus on the use of preventive measures to support healthy lifestyles to close the gap in the status of African Americans as compared to whites. The target community will be residents of a Hillsborough apartment complex, where many of our low-income, high-risk clients live. The grants are for 3 years with funding up to $75000 per year available. The project period for contracts awarded through this competitive process will begin July 1, 2007 and end June 30, 2010. We propose to establish an outlying Satellite Clinic or Outreach Center at the apartment complex. With this initiative we will advance OCHD’s goal of moving public health services further into the community and outside the walls of the Health Department. It will allow us to have an ongoing presence in a high-risk community where services can be easily accessed and utilized by residents, some during the evening hours. A full-time staff member is included in the grant funding. 2. Update on Community Health Assessment Donna King reported that two consultants would be helping finalize the survey. Teams will begin to take the survey to the field on two weekends in April; April 13-14 in southern Orange and April 20-21 in northern Orange. 210 surveys are expected to be completed. 3. Legislation Update Rosemary Summers reported that the NCALHD has earmarked several legislative bills of interest to public health to track. Board members were provided with a data sheet indicating status of each particular bill. 4. Water Resources Update Rosemary Summers reported that the report has been submitted to the County Manager and no decision has been made at this time. D. Tracking Form Review The tracking form provides the Board with a picture of upcoming agenda items and projects and enables the Board to plan its agendas. There were no changes to the tracking form. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH March 22, 2007 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 5 March 22, 2007 VI. Board Comments/Announcements A. None VII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Tim Carey, seconded by Sharon Van Horn, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board