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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 052099MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 20, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 1 May 20, 1999 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 THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1999 AT THE SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER IN CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Ives, Barry Jacobs, Janet Southerland, Barbara Chavious, Richard Marinshaw, Beverly Foster, Barry Adler, Mel Hurston BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Ron Cammarata, Brenda Crowder-Gaines, Jonathan Klein STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Patsy Bateman, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Tamara Norris, OCPYC I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Dr. Ives called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Rosemary Summers introduced the staff and guests present. II. ACTION ITEMS - CONSENT A. APPROVE AGENDA (May 20, 1999) and MINUTES (April 22, 1999) The agenda of May 20, 1999 was amended as follows: Add Item IIIC. Southern Human Services Center Transportation Letter; Remove Item IVB. Personal Health Services Reorganization; Add Item IVC. HSAC Report; Item VI. Changed to Closed Session, Personnel Issue; Add Item VII. Adjourn The motion to amend the May 20, 1999 agenda as stated above was made by Janet Southerland, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. The minutes of April 22, 1999 were approved. The motion to approve the minutes of April 22, 1999 was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. III. ACTION ITEMS - DECISION A. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DRAFT POLICY Last fall the health director was asked to develop a conflict of interest policy for the board’s consideration. In researching various statements in other health departments, it was apparent that only a few have any provision for conflict of interest. Three conflict of interest provisions were found, two health departments have short statements included in their by-laws and the third health department had adopted a separate policy. The question was asked if each board member would need to sign a conflict of interest statement. It was decided that each board member would sign a conflict of interest statement upon swearing-in and it will be filed in the Board of Health files in the Health Director’s office. Questions were raised regarding civil or criminal action regarding the conflict of interest policy. The Board of Health is covered under a bonded liability insurance policy by the County. It would MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 20, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 2 May 20, 1999 also be necessary for reappointed board members at the beginning of their new term to sign another conflict of interest policy statement. A question arose concerning Statement #6, grounds for dismissal. The Board of Health would make a recommendation regarding dismissal to the Board of County Commissioners and they would take the official dismissal action. The Board of Health has requested that the County Attorney review the draft Conflict of Interest Policy. The motion to adopt the Conflict of Interest Policy pending review by the County Attorney was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. B. RESOLUTION OF CIVIL DISCOURSE The Commissioners requested that this resolution be forwarded to all elected officials in Orange County, the Mayor of each municipality and to the Chairs of the County Boards and Commissions. The motion to adopt the Resolution of Civil Discourse was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Janet Southerland and carried without dissent. C. SHSC TRANSPORTATION LETTER A letter to Mayor Waldorf was included in the board packet regarding bus service to the Southern Human Services Center. The recommendation from the transportation staff to the Town Council is to eliminate the Southern Human Services Center bus route. The letter from the Chair of the Board of Health is to remind the Mayor that this bus route is to serve Orange County residents needing services and who are in need of public transportation. When the Southern Human Services Center opened, the Shared Rider Service was used as public transportation for clients of the Health Department, Department of Social Services, Housing, and Child Support Enforcement. The Health Department provided business cards to clients of the above departments with information on how to use the Shared Rider Service, however not many clients actually used this service. The Board of County Commissioners voted to forward to the Chapel Hill Town Council a letter of support regarding keeping the bus route or adding the stop to an existing route. The motion to forward a letter of support to the Chapel Hill Town Council and Mayor Waldorf for keeping a bus route that stops at the Southern Human Services Center was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. IV. DISCUSSION / REPORTS A. LOS NINOS TASK FORCE REPORT The Los Ninos Task Force, composed of agency and community representatives, has been meeting since October 1998 to assess the needs of Latino children ages 0-5, to identify gaps in essential services, and to determine the capacity of community agencies to serve these families and children. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 20, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 May 20, 1999 Tamara Norris of the OCPYC presented an overhead show to the Board of Health. She also distributed copies of the report. Focus group results showed that clients were satisfied with the child health care received at Piedmont Health Clinic and Carrboro Community Health Clinic. Clients feel they are well treated where doctors and nurses speak Spanish. Clients expressed less satisfaction with experiences at UNC Hospital and the Health Department Clinic in Hillsborough, where bilingual staff or interpreters are not always available. Many have not heard of NC Health Choice. Some who have applied have been denied because the family income was too high, or chose not to drop the child from other coverage for 6 months to qualify. Preventive dental care is a problem because it is expensive and not readily available. As of April first, the 6 month time frame has been changed to 2 months. Los Ninos recommendations: 1. Spanish speaking liaisons to help parents/children transition to child care. 2. Expand eligibility spaces and transportation for head start. 3. Broaden Health Choice coverage to non U.S.- born children. 4. Provide therapists to help children adjust to life in the US. 5. Provide bilingual health services in northern Orange County. 6. Develop a Hispanic resource. 7. The need for more ESL classes accessible to parents to include parenting and life skill content. 8. More bilingual resource coordinators. 9. Develop a network of translators/interpreters for parents and agencies. 10. Encourage bilingual hiring practices in agencies. The Board of Directors of OCPYC has allocated $85,000 to address these issues in the next few months. Proposals will be sent out. The Health Department may be looking at sending in a request for proposal. Rosemary Summers reported that there has been extensive outreach from the Health Department and other agencies informing the communities about NC Health Choice. The Department of Social Services reports that 5 Latino families were turned down for NC Health Choice because they were not US citizens. This is a federal government issue, not state or local. The Health Department has one bilingual person, a social worker in the Intensive Home Visiting Program. Latino clients that qualify for the program are referred to her. She has been asked to do translation but is often not available due to being in the community with the Intensive Home Visiting Program. The Health Department has 3 contract translators. The staff does not always feel comfortable using them due to a lack of medical terminology. The Health Department is looking into sending the translators to Spanish medical terminology classes. B. BOARD RECRUITMENT Included in the Board packet was an appointment process to the Orange County Board of Health, which was approved in June 1997. As of June 30, 1999, the Board of Health will have 3 vacancies. Included as a handout to board members was a memo from the County Attorney to the Board of County Commissioners reviewing the statutory authority for board appointments. This memo stated that board members are eligible to serve three 3-year terms; but nothing prohibits the Commissioners from limiting the terms to two. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 20, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 May 20, 1999 All Board of Health members felt that three 3-year terms should be allowed by the County Commissioners due to the complex rule making authority and quasi-judicial processes of the board. Concerns were also raised as to the “probationary” period of bringing newer board members up to speed with the issues presented to the board. The Board of Health also asked the Health Director to explore a possible “phase-in” proposal if the Commissioners will not allow three terms. Tim Ives, Brenda Crowder-Gaines and Rosemary Summers will discuss the direction of the Board of Health in regard to Board Recruitment and bring a recommendation back to the Board in June. C. HSAC REPORT Topic for the policy forum will be Orange County Latino Community Needs. Suggestions need to be sent to Beverly Foster for review by the HSAC Board. The forum has been scheduled for September 15, 1999 at the Friday Center. An announcement letter will be mailed in July with an agenda. V. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE A sample letter was handed out at the board meeting for the board to review. Board members are being asked to send this letter of support for Healthy Carolinians funding. Rosemary talked briefly with Ellie Kinnaird. The spay/neuter bill was voted unfavorable. The dental benefits for Health Choice were reported favorably in the Senate and are forwarded to the House. B. LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS Dr. McBride sent copies of the Livestock Emissions article to Health Directors and this was provided as a handout to board members. Ron Holdway of Environmental Health and Fletcher Barber with the Agricultural Extension Office also received copies. C. BUDGET The budget will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners this coming week. The budget hearings are set for June. The Environmental Health Specialist position is being forwarded. The Healthy Carolinians position at 50% support level is moving along. The fund proposal to Duke Endowment is still alive as well. D. Health Choice Orange County is now at 70% enrollment, in the top 10% of all counties. Dr. McBride and the Department of Public Instruction head sent letters/flyers to superintendents at all county schools. Rosemary Summers did a presentation to the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a booth for Health Choice at Hog Day for applications and assistance to families. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 20, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 5 May 20, 1999 E. Kerr Drug Initiative Another meeting is scheduled and Kerr Drug has agreed to be a site for senior vaccinations. The Health Department will discuss the possibility of a brown bag review where pharmacists review all the medications being taken by the seniors. Senior vaccination month is in October. Orange County is identified as having 5300 unserved elderly for flu vaccinations. F. Rogers Road Well Testing (Environmental Health) Rosemary Summers has talked with Mr. Caldwell from the community. Staff from Environmental Health, Animal Control and the Health Director will meet with the community to discuss issues with solid waste, vultures, wells, etc. G. Pending work Reorganization in the Personal Health Services Division. WTMP Education Plan, committee meeting scheduled for June. Adverse Public Health Condition. Emergency Plan. VI. CLOSED SESSION The motion to move into closed session regarding Personnel Issue (Authority G.S. Section 143- 318.11(a) (6)) was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Barry Jacobs and carried without dissent. The motion to adjourn from closed session and return to open session was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Janet Southerland and carried without dissent. The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Beverly Foster, seconded by Mel Hurston and carried without dissent. The Board of Health meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held on June 24, 1999 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board RLS:plb