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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 012501MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 1 January 25, 2001 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 ON THURSDAY, January 25, 2001 at the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Jonathan Klein, Janet Southerland, Barry Adler, Mel Hurston, Alan Rimer, Martha Stucker, Sharon Van Horn, Lee Werley, Kate Wilder and Alice White. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: excused absence, Barry Jacobs, due to a conflict in schedules. STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director; John Sauls, Animal Control Services Division Director; Angela Cooke, Dental Services Coordinator; Kathy Glassock, Interim Personal Health Services Division Director; Donna King, Health Promotion and Education Services Division Director; Leticia Burns, Central Administrative Services Division Director; and Anne Miles, Administrative Assistant. GUESTS PRESENT: Charles Koehler, Dan Rakovan, Ellen Whitaker, Lisa Robinson Bailey, Vera Shanley, Jim Shanley, and Chad Leinbach. I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Jonathan Klein called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. II. ACTION ITEMS A. Approval of January 25, 2001 agenda. Motion to approve the agenda as presented was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Lee Werley and carried without dissent. Minutes approval of November 16, 2000 meeting. Motion to approve the minutes of the November 16, 2000 meeting was made by Kate Wilder, seconded by Alice White and carried without dissent. B. Presentation of Hearing Materials of Vera and Jim Shanley The Board considered the materials presented from the hearing conducted on December 18, 2000 on the matter of the appeal of Vera and Jim Shanley regarding the denial of a well permit. Board members present at the hearing were Alan Rimer, Martha Stucker, and Alice White. The transcript from the hearing was presented along with other relevant documents in the matter. Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director, presented the original blueprint for clarification. Mr. Chad Leinbach of Conner Consulting, LLC, addressed the Board on the Shanley's behalf. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 2 January 25, 2001 There was discussion concerning whether the Board could approve a well that was designated as "non-potable" for purposes other than human consumption. The current Board of Health rules do not allow alternate designations for wells. The hearing committee has asked staff to prepare a study paper for the Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee to consider whether a new rule or modification to the current rule is advisable. Mr. Rimer asked whether a decision on the Shanley's appeal could be postponed pending the possible development of a new rule. Dr. Summers reminded the Board that the decision on this appeal should be made on the rule that was/is in effect at the time the staff decision was made to deny the permit. If a new rule is implemented, the Shanley's could re-apply for a permit under the new rule. The appeals process in this type of matter is for the Board to consider whether the staff is interpreting and applying the rules correctly. The Board has the authority to affirm, modify or reverse the staff decision according to NCGS § 130A-24. Motion was made to deny the appeal by Alan Rimer, seconded by Martha Stucker, and carried with Mel Hurston dissenting. III. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda None IV. Discussion Items/Reports A. Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee 1. Amendment to "Ordinance Prohibiting the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property in Orange County" The committee reviewed the current ordinance prohibiting the keeping of wild animals dangerous to persons and properties within Orange County as part of its work in examining the potential ban on the display of wild and exotic animals. This ordinance was first passed in 1983 and has not been reviewed since that passage. The Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee found the language in the ordinance pertaining to permitting the keeping of such animals during the ordinance’s phase in period and the accompanying language on structures and enclosures that accompanied the permits to be confusing. That language had been included in the ordinance in order to allow those residents whom already owned such animals to continue to keep the animals until they died or the residents moved from the county. No permits are currently on file or valid under the provisions of the 1983 ordinance. The county attorney’s office reviewed the Committee’s request and drafted the amended ordinance as presented. The amended ordinance strikes all language pertaining to permitting and physical enclosures. This clarifies that the keeping of wild animals dangerous to persons and property within MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 3 January 25, 2001 Orange County is not allowed. The only exemption allowed is for animals used for teaching and/or research purposes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Other than these changes the ordinance remains the same. The ordinance would not apply to incorporated municipalities within Orange County. Motion was made by Martha Stucker, seconded by Janet Southerland and carried without dissent for the Board to forward with a recommendation for approval the Amended Ordinance "Prohibiting the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property within Orange County" to the Board of County Commissioners. 2. Proposed "Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals in Orange County" In the summer of 2000, the Board of Commissioners heard from a request from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety, a local group of residents requesting that the county institute an ordinance that bans the display of exotic animals. The Board of Commissioners referred the matter to the Board of Health. Over the past seven months the Board of Health has studied the matter thoroughly and worked with the county attorney’s office to draft an ordinance for consideration by the Commissioners. The Board of Health’s Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee received extensive materials from the circus industry and from the Committee on Human and Animal Safety for consideration. The committee believes an ordinance would serve two purposes: 1) that such an ordinance will protect the health and safety of the citizens of Orange County and 2) that such an ordinance would contribute to the protection of wild and exotic animals from potentially cruel, neglectful and abusive situations. The committee first considered this matter as an amendment to the current “Ordinance Prohibiting the Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property within Orange County,” however; the committee rejected that proposal as potentially confusing to the public. Therefore this is a separate ordinance proposal. The purpose of the ordinance is to prohibit the display of wild and exotic animals within Orange County specifically for the purposes of entertainment or amusement. It does not prohibit the exhibition of animals for educational purposes by non-profit groups, institutions or individuals. Section 2 of the Proposed Ordinance specifies that “It shall be unlawful for any person to display or sponsor a display of wild or exotic animals on any public or private property within Orange County.” Section 3 of the proposed ordinance details enforcement steps and penalties MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 4 January 25, 2001 that include classification as a criminal offense, Class 3 Misdemeanor and the imposition of civil penalties of $50 per day per animal. Charles Koehler spoke to the Board opposing the ordinance on the basis that circuses are regulated by the USDA and regularly inspected for compliance to regulations. He stated that there was no evidence to indicate injuries by circus animals in North Carolina. Mr. Koehler is a resident of Rowan County and was asked to come to the meeting by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association as its representative in this matter. Ellen Whitaker and Lisa Robinson Bailey spoke in support of the passage of this ordinance. They presented summary information with examples of human injuries caused by animals in North Carolina. Both are residents of Orange County and are members of the Committee on Human and Animal Safety. The passage of the ordinance is also endorsed by the Animal Protection Society of Orange County. Motion was made by Janet Southerland, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent that the Board forward and recommend approval of the Ordinance "Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals Within Orange County" to the Board of County Commissioners. B Dental and Personal Health Committee 1. Amendment to Eligibility and Fee Policies The Committee considered this matter at its December meeting. Prior to August 1, 2000 clients were only charged for a few services (i.e. family planning & Breast and Cervical Cancer Program). After August 1, the clinical areas of the Health Department started charging fees for nearly all services (not including STDs, immunizations, or communicable disease). Prior bad debt policy and inability to send regular client statements have left the department with $73,763 in accounts receivable. The Department requests that uncollectable accounts receivable prior to August 1, 2000 (amount of approximately $73,000) be written off. Bills have been sent to clients with services in early 2000, however, many have been returned as "addressee unknown" and few attempts have been made to make payments on this old debt. The new software system, Medware, is more efficient than the previous system and collection letters will be able to be printed and mailed out reliably each month. To keep our current accounts receivable to a minimum, a follow up system of successive client bills and letters would be sent over a 6-month time frame. The following process is proposed: MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 5 January 25, 2001 • Send client bills (statement of account) for 3 consecutive months. Include letter #1. • If no payment or contact is made with the department to clear the debt after 3 months, client will receive letter #2 with statement of account. (with 4th month billing cycle) • All support staff in the clinical areas who are checking out self-pay clients will be instructed to explain that we expect a minimum payment of $10, if full payment cannot be made at that time. When clients make appointments, appointment secretary will instruct clients that they should bring at least $10 minimum to make payment on their account if they are self-pay (non-Medicaid clients). Proposed changes to existing fee collection policy are: • Change Section IV.F. to read: Bills will be sent for three months after service, including a copy of letter #1. • Change Section IV.G. to read: After the initial three-month cycle, a client will receive a statement of account with a copy of letter #2 for the next three months. • Insert after Section IV.G.: If the debt is not paid after six months of bills being sent, when client attempts to make another appointment, the client will be told they have a previous balance, and payment must be made at time of next service. Motion was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Kate Wilder, and carried without dissent that the Board approve the uncollectable receivables prior to August 1, 2000 as write-offs subject to concurrence of the County Finance Office and that the Board amend the Eligibility and Fee Policy as proposed. 2. Pre-School Dental Screening Project The Health Department has traditionally received funds from the Orange County Partnership for Young Children for a preschool dental screening program for day care and family childcare homes in the county. The goal of the Preschool Dental Screening Project is to promote preventive dental health education and identify needs and barriers concerning access to dental care for children age 0-5 in day care centers, family day care homes and other settings. The Partnership allocates funds for all of its programs in the summer, however the screening usually begins in April and runs through June. Last year approximately 1900 preschoolers were screened and followed-up. The UNC School of Dentistry is a partner with the Health Department in delivering this important program. This memorandum of agreement stipulates that the UNC School of Dentistry will provide a Project Director for the Program that schedules senior dental and dental hygiene students to perform the dental screenings, examinations, education and preventive treatment; provides dental attending staff to serve as preceptors to these students; and coordinate with Health Department staff MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 6 January 25, 2001 in the logistical arrangement for this program. Health Department staff actually coordinates and implements the program, including follow-up for children with identified dental needs. The agreement with the Dental School allows the actual screening clinics to be conducted by Dental School students, faculty, and staff. Unallocated funds became available mid-year through the Partnership for expansion of already funded projects. The Partnership Board has approved an additional $5,000 to purchase additional supplies for the Tooth Time kits that were a new component of the Preschool Screening Project this past year. The Tooth Time kits are checked out and used by day care centers and family-care homes to educate children in good oral health. The supplies need to be replenished after each use. The Board needs to accept these additional funds. The cost of the agreement is $6,000 and is included in the overall grant from the Orange County Partnership for Young Children to the Health Department. The original grant amount was $36,645 for FY 2000-2001 and with the additional $5,000 comes to a total of $41,855. County match for the entire project is calculated on an in-kind basis. Motion was made by Martha Stucker, seconded by Mel Hurston, and carried without dissent that the Board approve the Memorandum of Agreement and forward it to the Commissioners for approval; and that the Board accept the additional $5,000 for the Dental Preschool Screening Project. C Executive Committee 1. Shaping Orange County's Future Draft Document In discussion Alan Rimer made the suggestion to send the document in sections to relevant committees for study and to report back to the Board their findings. The Board decided to follow this procedure and further discussion was tabled. 2. The Year in Review: 1999-2000 Rosemary Summers presented a review of statistics and activities of the Health Department from the previous year as a first step in budget preparation. It is anticipated that a draft budget presentation will be made at the February Board meeting. Copy of slides attached to these minutes. 3. Long-Range Plan Discussion The development of a long-range plan began about a year and a half ago at a Board work session. This draft is a culmination of those efforts. This plan is intended not only to shape the coming year's direction, but also establishes MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 7 January 25, 2001 ongoing and emerging needs in public health. The Plan will be sent, by sections, to appropriate committees for review. 4. New Position Requests for FY 2001-2002 The county's budget preparation process begins with the identification of position changes; new positions, re-authorized positions if grant-funded, and increases in time for part-time existing positions. There is an extensive review process in the county manager's office prior to submission to the Board of Commissioners. For the past two years, Commissioners have reviewed position requests in April prior to seeing any budget information from departments. New position requests include three new Environmental Health Services positions, three new positions in Central Administrative Services, additional time in two Personal Health positions, one Health Education & Nutrition position, time increases in two Dental Health positions, and one additional grant funded position in Dental Health. These requests are submitted to the Board for information and comment purposes. V. Board Comments None VII. Announcements None Motion to move into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) in the matter of Rosemary Summers vs L & W Enterprises of Durham, Inc. was made by Jonathan Klein and seconded by Janet Southerland and was carried without dissent. The motion to leave the closed session and return to open session was made by Jonathan Klein and seconded by Janet Southerland. VIII Adjournment Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Alan Rimer, seconded by Janet Southerland and was carried without dissent. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The next Board of Health meeting will be held on February 22, 2001 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH January 25, 2001 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 8 January 25, 2001 Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board