Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 042502MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 1 April 25, 2002 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 April 25, 2002 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Jonathan Klein, Chair; Mel Hurston, Vice Chair; Barry Adler; Alan Rimer; Sharon Van Horn; Lee Werley; Kate Wilder; Alice White BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Martha Stucker due to work conflict; Moses Carey, Jr. due to meeting conflict. STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Letitia Burns, Central Administrative Services Division Director; Donna King, Health Promotion and Education Services Division Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director; Phil Valiro, Environmental Health Specialist; John Sauls, Animal Control Services Division Director; Anne Miles, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Dana Leinenweber, Child Fatality Prevention Team; Gretchen Aylsworth, Child Fatality Prevention Team; Ben Wilson, UNC Medical Student, Tyrone Trice, Mrs. Gwendolyn L. Trice. I. Welcome and Introductions Jonathan Klein called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M. A. Special Report: Child Fatality Prevention Team Annual Report Dr. Dana Leinenweber, Pediatrician, a member of the Child Fatality Prevention Team, presented the report. The team reviews all child fatalities in the county and gives recommendations and improvements and identifies any resources or gaps in the system. The ultimate goal is to reduce child fatalities in Orange County. Since July 2001, the team has reviewed seven (7) child fatalities. These have included heart -related illnesses, SIDS, birth defects, and other serious perinatal conditions. Prematurity is most common reason for child fatality in Orange County. In looking back over the records since 1999, the four (4) SIDS deaths that were reviewed from this time all had co-sleeping as a factor. That is something that is beginning to emerge in the pediatric literature as a possible risk factor for preventing child death. As a result of the noted trends in SIDS related deaths, the Orange County CFPT has begun tracking the following information for all SIDS related deat hs: drug use by the mother, where the baby was found sleeping, tobacco use in the home, whether or not a death scene investigation was actually performed as recommended by the CDC, the medical status of the family, and type of heat used in the home. II. Approval of April 25, 2002 Revised Agenda Due to recent events occurring between the preparation of the original agenda and the Board meeting, a revised agenda with additional topics was presented for approval. The additions are as follows: MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 2 April 25, 2002 V.B.4. Dangerous Dog Update V.C.2. Liaison Appointments a. Comprehensive Lane Use Committee (CPLUC) b. Adult Care Home Ordinance V.C.3. Nuclear Town Meeting V.C.4. Bioterrorism Draft Legislation The motion to approve the Revised Agenda of April 25, 2002 was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Lee Werley, and carried without dissent. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda A. Minutes approval of March 21, 2002 meeting. Motion to approve the minutes of September 27, 2001 was made by Janet Southerland, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent. V. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action A. PHEADS Committee 1. Adjustments to the Fee Schedule An increase to $20/pneumonia vaccine charge is recommended due to increase in vaccine and supply costs. The department has had frequent requests from citizens for basic physical exams to meet the requirements for school entry, camp enrollment, and sports participation. The exam components are more limited than a full developmental and medical exam under Medicaid guidelines. The limited exam includes a history, urine test, hematocrit, vital signs, immunizations as needed and physical exam. In the case of Kindergarten physicals, a developmental assessment and hearing and vision exams are included. Clients eligible for Medicaid will be provided a traditional Health Check examination and those unable to afford the fee will be enrolled in our child health program on a sliding fee scale. Proposed flat fees based on cost: Sports/Camp Physicals - $35; Kindergarten Physicals = $40. Residents desiring this service would be required to “pay up front” for the service to hold down the billing costs. Motion to approve additions to the fee schedule as stated was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent. 2. “Men as Navigators” Grant Letter of Support UNC in partnership with three community groups is submitting a grant proposal to the CDC to address Men’s Health in each community. The project entitled MAN for Health (Men as Navigators for Health) will allow each community to MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 3 April 25, 2002 work on issues to improve the health and well being of men in their respective counties. Orange County plans to address the community-identified issues of prostate cancer and diabetes among African-American men in the Efland-Cheeks and Cedar Grove communities. The Health Department, as a partner in community-based public health initiatives, will work with the communities in planning research and intervention activities and dovetail its cultural diversity/competency effort, United Village of Orange, with other partners in overcoming racial barriers to health access. This is anticipated to be a three- year grant if awarded. Motion to authorize the Chair to sign the letter of support for the grant proposal (MAN for Health) was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Lee Werley, and carried without dissent. B. ACEH Committee 1. Update on No Fault Well Repair Fund Policy Rosemary Summers and Ron Holdway held a meeting with community members April 7th to discuss the draft policy for administering the No Fault Well Repair Fund. There were approximately 40 area residents in attendance. Copies of the policy were provided for review and residents were asked to provide comments, additions and deletions they would like to see incorporated into the final policy. Staff agreed that any comment sheets ready by the 19th would be presented to the Board of Health on the 25th. Staff also agreed to continue taking comment sheets beyond the 19th for review by the Board of Health and the Board of County Commissioners. The ACEH Committee will also discuss the final draft at their next meeting. 2. Update on Extension Granted to Tyrone Trice Mr. Trice approached the Board of Health last year requesting a delay of any enforcement actions against him regarding his septic system replacement because of his personal and financial situation. The Board approved a delay of enforcement actions until April 1, 2002 with the understanding that the system must function properly and that the well must show no contamination directly attributable to the septic system encroachment. At this point there is no malfunction of the system and the water quality is good. Mr. Trice informed staff earlier this month that he is no closer to getting the system repaired due to legal actions he is involved in that are not related to this case. A formal appeal has not been made. Motion was made to direct staff to proceed with enforcement actions as of June 1, 2002 by Barry Adler, seconded by Alan Rimer, and carried without dissent. 3. WTMP Goal Revision Update At the Board of County Commissioners’ retreat in February the Commissioners agreed that a study of existing septic systems by a graduate student would be MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 4 April 25, 2002 appropriate before any further steps are taken in the implementation of the WTMP program. The Commissioners also requested a report on the number of homes within Orange County that do not have complete indoor plumbing facilities. The staff is also continuing to pull information together on the establishment of a low interest loan fund to repair failing septic systems. This report is also being pursued with the use of a graduate student. Motion to accept the study of the WTMP expansion and forward the update to the Board of County Commissioners was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Alice White, and carried without dissent. 4. Dangerous Dog Update Kate Wilder reported to the Board on two recent incidents. There was an attack by two pit bulls in the Kirkwood community. These dogs were up-to-date on their rabies vaccines, but were quarantined for 10 days. The two dogs were being held under a court order until a trial date of May 20th and subsequently stolen out of the animal shelter, causing some minor damage to the shelter in the process. Chapel Hill police are investigating. In the other incident two pit bulls attacked and killed another dog in the White Cross community. These dogs were not vaccinated and were quarantined. The owner surrendered them for euthanasia. There is an issue about a specific breed ban for the County and the committee felt that a ban on a specific breed is not appropriate. Stricter civil liability and possible criminal liability should be enforced, placing the burden of responsibility on the owners of potentially dangerous dogs. A system of fines is in place for violations of the county’s animal control ordinance. The Board did not feel a need to increase the amounts of the fines at this time. The Committee will be discussing this situation further and develop specific recommendations for the Board to consider. C. Other Items 1. Budget Update/Public Hearings Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for May 30 at Southern Human Services Center and for June 6 at the Courthouse in Hillsborough. It is anticipated that each department will be asked to identify cuts in their operating budgets. The increase in revenues for the Health Department should offset the increase in expenditures for next year. The State is still making reductions in funding so the final revenue picture is still unknown. 2. Liaison Appointments MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 5 April 25, 2002 a. Comprehensive Land Use Committee (CPLUC) At its April meeting the Board of County Commissioners established the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Committee (CPLUC). The committee will offer its perspective on the comprehensive goals, objectives, and policies for countywide comprehensive land use planning. The Commissioners have requested representation on CPLUC by one Board of Health member and one alternate. Mel Hurston volunteered to represent the board, and Alice White volunteered to be the alternate. b. Adult Care Home Ordinance The Master Aging Plan adopted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2001included a goal for Orange County to be a model county “adhering to or surpassing federal and state guidelines which address residents’ rights, quality of care and quality of life in long term care facilities.” The establishment of a short -term committee that would develop a local county ordinance for the Board of County Commissioners’ approval to improve the quality of care and safety of residents in adult care homes in Orange County address this issue. Jonathan Klein volunteered to be on this committee. 3. Nuclear Town Meeting Concerns have been raised regarding contamination of the water supply in the event of an accidental radiation release from the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. Alan Rimer presented the draft of the OWASA statement to the Terrorist Risk Symposium. General issues of water supply interruption, emergency response to a radiation release, and post -emergency issues arising from a radiation release were addressed. Radioactive iodine, one of the contaminants that could be release in a nuclear accident, can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Potassium iodide, a form of iodine, is a drug that, taken in an appropriate and timely dosage, can block exposure to radioactive iodine and has been determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be a safe and effective method to block exposure to radioactive iodine. FDA’s new guidance is based on studies conducted after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in 1986. Based on a plan for potassium iodide distribution instituted by the state of Vermont, the Board recommended endorsing distribution and availability of the drug due to the proximity of Orange County to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. Motion to support a study of the local and regional issues of water supply contamination due to accidental radiation release was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Alice White, and carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH April 25, 2002 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 6 April 25, 2002 4. Bioterrorism Draft Legislation The Board received copies of a draft of legislation scheduled to go before the General Assembly when they meet in this session that substantially modifies the legal authorities of the state health director and local public health. Some of this legislation is already on the books. The draft was sent out to local public health directors to receive input from their Boards of Health and from the County Attorney in looking at the scope of the legislation. VI. Board Comments/Announcements None Motion to move to closed session was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Sharon Van Horn, and carried without dissent. VII. Closed Session Pursuant to G. S. 143-318.11(a)(1) for the purposes of reviewing a draft of the biot errorism plan for the county. Motion to move to open session was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent. VIII. Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Lee Werley, seconded by Barry Adler, and carried without dissent. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on May 23, 2002 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