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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 18, 2004
Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1November 18, 2004
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 18, 2004 at the
Government Services Center, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Alice White, Chair; Alan Rimer, Vice-Chair; Tim
Carey; Moses Carey, Sharon Freeland; Jessica Lee; Kate Wilder
BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Matt Vizithum, due to meeting conflict; Chris
Harlan and Sharon Van Horn, due to illness
STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Angela Cooke, Dental Health
Services Division Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director;
Donna King, Health Promotion and Education Division Director; Wayne Sherman, Personal
Health Services Division Director; Anne Miles Cassell, Administrative Assistant
GUESTS PRESENT: Michael Gillespie, UNC School of Public Health
I. Welcome and Introductions
Alice White called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
II. Approval of November 18, 2004 Agenda
Item VII.F. BOCC Annual Retreat Input was added to the agenda.
The motion to approve the Agenda of November 18, 2004 as amended was made by
Kate Wilder, seconded by Moses Carey, and carried without dissent.
III. Tostanoski Appeal
Edward Tostanoski appealed the staff’s decision to deny an Improvements Permit and
existing system authorization issued for a property he owns on Whitfield Road. The
decision to deny the permit and authorization was based on findings that the soil on the
site was unsuitable and the existing system was out of use as defined in Board of Health
approved rules.
The ACEH Committee held a hearing on October 25th and the transcript from the hearing
was distributed to board members. In a matter of an appeal the board must determine if
staff has applied the laws, rules, and/or policies correctly and fairly. There is no provision
in the laws or rules for variances or hardships. The Board has the authority to affirm,
modify or reverse the staff decision in the appeal according to NCGS § 130A-24. The
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 18, 2004
Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2November 18, 2004
ACEH Committee affirmed that the staff had acted in accordance with adopted policies
and procedures.
Motion to support staff’s actions and determination was made by Alan Rimer,
seconded by Tim Carey, and carried without dissent.
IV. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda
None
V. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda
A. Minutes approval of October 28, 2004 meeting.
B. New Dental Medicaid Fee Rates; Two New ADA Codes and Services
C. Agreement with UNC Health Link for After Hours Coverage
Motion to approve the items on the Consent Agenda was made by Kate Wilder,
seconded by Sharon Freeman, and carried without dissent.
VI. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action
A. Contract with Triangle JCOG for Active Seniors Grant
The Orange County Health Department was awarded one-time competitive funds
for FY 2004-05 from the NC Department of Health and Human Services to
support a project that would increase physical activity for seniors. This project
will bring together public health educators, land use planners, recreation
planners, and senior services professionals to work with senior citizens and other
local residents to promote physical activity in the neighborhood surrounding the
planned new Southern Orange County Senior Center, the existing Southern
Human Services Center, and Homestead Community Park.
Motion to forward the contract to the Board of Commissioners for approval was
made by Tim Carey, seconded by Jessica Lee, and carried without dissent.
B. Communicable Disease Update
Wayne Sherman provided an update on the status of influenza vaccine need,
availability, and community coverage. Due to the disruption of Chiron’s
manufacturing capability, there has been a severe shortage of influenza vaccine
availability in the community. CDC has limited the administration of vaccine to 8
specified high-risk groups. OCHD has been working with the medical, nursing
and rest home, and daycare communities to assess the availability, need, and
status of coverage in Orange County.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 18, 2004
Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3November 18, 2004
OCHD has received additional state supplied and purchased vaccine. We have
worked with community partners to assure that high-risk individuals are being
vaccinated.
In addition to the influenza vaccine shortage, the department simultaneously
responded to a meningitis case involving a UNC student and an E coli outbreak
related to the State Fair.
The department worked with UNC student health and Wake County Health
Department to identify and locate all contacts with the meningitis patient to
provide prophylaxis. The rapid response by the Health Department and UNC
Student Health is credited with the prevention of additional meningitis cases.
Wake County and NC State University handled all Wake County exposures.
The E coli outbreak linked to the State Fair resulted in six (6) confirmed cases in
the county. The department generated three MD alerts and two Daycare alerts as
well as sending out information to daycares with confirmed cases. Active
surveillance also required daily phone calls to medical practices to determine
whether there were additional cases.
C. Applicant Guide to Environmental Health Permits
Staff has been working on a customer’s guide to permitting processes in
Environmental Health. Staff tried to coordinate their actions with local planning
and inspections departments to reduce or eliminate confusion within the
document. A draft copy of the guide was distributed to board members for
comments and suggestions as to how it can be improved or made simpler. Staff
hopes to put the final version into service in early 2005 after a field test with
consumers.
D. Board Officer Nominations
The election of officers usually occurs during November to allow for a smooth
transition of leadership for the next calendar year. The Nominating Committee
reported on the slate that will be elected at the December 16 meeting. Alan
Rimer has been recommended as Chair and Jessica Lee has been recommended
as Vice Chair. There were o additional nominations from the floor.
E. Board Item Follow-up Format
The development of the Board Follow-up Chart was a request of the Board in
order to better track items of interest to the Board so that action can be taken in
an appropriate time frame. The chart will be used for a period of one year and
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
November 18, 2004
Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4November 18, 2004
reevaluated.
F. Annual Planning Retreat
Board members suggested several focus areas for discussion at the Board of
Commissioners Annual Planning Retreat in January. Topics include wastewater
management, cooperation between boards, and the surge capacity abilities of the
health department in multitasking during multiple crises.
G. Mental Health Care Management
An issue of care management of mentally ill children was discussed and a mental
health transition educational session was suggested for the spring.
VII. Board Comments/Announcements
December Meeting
Board members have agreed to change time and location of the December meeting to a
dinner meeting at 6:30 pm. The date remains December 16, 2004. The tentative location
is the Spice Street Restaurant in Chapel Hill.
VIII. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Tim Carey,
and carried without dissent.
The next Board of Health meeting will be held on December 16, 2004 at the Spice Street
Restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH
Health Director
Secretary to the Board