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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 062499MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 24, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 1 June 24, 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, JUNE 24, 1999 AT THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER IN HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Ives, Barry Adler, Richard Marinshaw, Ron Cammarata, Brenda Crowder-Gaines, Mel Hurston BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Janet Southerland, Barbara Chavious, Beverly Foster, Barry Jacobs, Jonathan Klein STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Division Director; John Sauls, Animal Control Division Director; Tom Konsler, Environmental Health; Patsy Bateman, Administrative Assistant I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Dr. Ives called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Rosemary Summers introduced the staff present. II. ACTION ITEMS - CONSENT A. APPROVE AGENDA (June 24, 1999) and MINUTES (May 20, 1999) The agenda of June 24, 1999 was approved. The motion to approve the June 24, 1999 agenda was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines, seconded by Ron Cammarata and carried without dissent. The minutes of May 20, 1999 were amended. Page 5, 4th paragraph, U.S. Born should be U.S.- Born and head start should be Head Start. The motion to amend the minutes of May 20, 1999 as stated above was made by Ron Cammarata, seconded by Barry Adler and carried without dissent. B. CONTRACT APPROVALS Dr. Angle’s loss of hearing is becoming an issue for patients and staff. This year the other physicians associated with the Health Department will play an increased role in telephone coverage for the department. Dr. Sandler will be retiring in the year 2001. An issue for the Health Department will be whether or not someone from the Dental School will transfer into Dr. Sandler’s role as the Division Director for Dental Health. In the next year, the Health Department will be researching the possibility of hiring a physician and a dentist, since the contract amounts are approaching the equivalent of full-time providers in each of these areas. The motion to accept the UNC Family Medicine contract, two UNC Dental School contracts, and the contract with the UNC School of Pharmacy was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 24, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 2 June 24, 1999 C. BOARD OF HEALTH APPOINTMENTS The Board of Health Executive Committee met and discussed the recommendations from the May meeting regarding Board of Health appointments. The Board of Health sentiment at the May meeting was to request the Board of County Commissioners to make an exception for the terms served on the Board of Health. The Board still feels that members should serve 3 three – year terms. The Board of County Commissioners have been faced with this issue regarding Orange County Board terms in the last few years. On another county board a member requested a third term and was denied. The Board of County Commissioners at that time reaffirmed their decision to have members serve only 2 three-year terms. After much discussion, the Board of Health is requesting that the Vice-Chair of the Board communicate with the Board of County Commissioners via a written request to grant an exception to the usual appointment terms. The motion to approve the Board of Health Vice-Chair to request in writing to the Board of County Commissioners, for an exception to the 2 term policy for Board of Health appointments with a possibility of discussion at a Board of County Commissioners meeting was made by Barry Adler, seconded by Ron Cammarata and carried without dissent. III. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. WASTEWATER RULES Revisions of the wastewater rules was included in the Board packet. Ron Holdway presented revisions of the rules to the Board and a discussion session was held. The Environmental Health staff has been asked to make other revisions to the rules and return the document to the Board at the July meeting for adoption. The Board of Health recognized the Environmental Health staff for the hard work in putting together and revising the Wastewater Rules. The Orange County Environmental Health rules have been noted as being more strict than the State rules. B. REQUEST FOR REVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE This request was referred to the Board of Health by the County Commissioners. John Sauls would not want to enforce a revision of this portion of the ordinance. It is appropriate that animal control enforce barking dogs. The animal control division director can sympathize with this request on a personal level. Ron Cammarata suggested that a general noise ordinance might be applicable and could be enforced by law enforcement officers. The motion to NOT amend the Animal Control Ordinance regarding the rooster was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Ron Cammarata and carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 24, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 June 24, 1999 C. BOARD OF HEALTH HALF-DAY WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER, 1999 Potential topics for the Board of Health half-day work session were included in the packet. Topics suggested by the Board as being of most urgency were the final reorganization of Personal Health, Dental Health Program, and areas of new development. Tim Ives suggested the Board members receive an agenda and pertinent information prior to the work session. Two dates suggested for the work session are the afternoon of Friday, September 24th or Friday, October 1st. The work session would begin around 12:30 with lunch. IV. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. BUDGET The environmental health position was not funded and the WTMP did not receive a set aside. There were no funds set aside for the outsourcing of the billing function. Fifty percent of the Healthy Carolinians position was funded by the general fund. The other half of that position and the entire other position were approved contingent upon receiving grant funds or other outside funds. The University (UNC) had made a commitment to the Healthy Carolinians position, however, Ned Brooks voluntarily gave up his contingency fund, which may have included the funding for this position. The operating funds were approved at requested levels. The requested fee increases were approved. The time upgrades for the school nurse and office assistant were approved. B. WTMP COMMITTEE MEETING The WTMP Committee met last week to review a skeleton outline of an education plan developed by Cornelia Ramsey. Rosemary’s sense from the meeting was that the two commissioners would like to broaden the scope of education to include broader environmental issues and use the education plan to build support for the program. If support for the program cannot be built through the education program, the program should not go forward at that point. The two commissioners would like some revision of the educational plan, a summary of the entire plan incorporated, and a timeline prepared. They would like to have it presented at another Commissioners work session for a more full discussion. C. NC HEALTH CHOICE FOR CHILDREN The Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce sponsored a booth at Hog Day for Health Choice outreach. Cathy Ferniany of the Health Department was the organizer and she reported that a lot of parents came by the booth and took applications. There is a possibility of a small Americorp grant for outreach activities. Orange County is currently at 80% enrollment or 378 children. Rosemary Summers has nominated the Orange County Health Choice Coalition to be awarded a Glaxo Child Health Award. D. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Included in the Board packet was an update on Healthy Carolinians need for legislative contact to support funding. Board members were asked to contact legislators as soon as possible. New issues have arisen with the HB280 Graduated Driver’s License legislation. Board members were asked to refer to the handout. Board members were also given the current arguments/negotiations around the tobacco settlement funds. The dental bill for NC Health Choice is in the Senate for action. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 24, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 June 24, 1999 E. RELOCATION OF THE HOMELESS SHELTER Rosemary Summers attended a meeting sponsored by the IFC primarily for their clergy to discuss this issue. The idea of locating the shelter on the Homestead property is still just an idea, but one that seems to have a lot of momentum. County concerns are numerous around this issue and include service expansion needs of current departments as well as other needed county services. F. ROGERS ROAD COMMUNITY Ron Holdway, John Sauls, and Rosemary Summers attended a community meeting and listened to a host of community concerns that included water quality, air quality, and vultures. In response to the meeting, the Health Department will (1) draw three sample bottles of every well for which there is a testing application and get VOC, inorganic and bacteriological results; (2) compile and report to residents exact value results from the tests; (3) explore whether there is a problem with vultures in the area and the public health threat of vulture feces; (4) ask the State Center for Health Statistics if they can run health data for the neighborhood to see if patterns of disease or chronic conditions can be identified; and (5) find out how the landfill is vented and whether there have been any problems with the vents. Once all the data is gathered, Ron Holdway, John Sauls, and Rosemary Summers will meet with the community again. Dr. McBride may be invited as well. V. MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNEL MATTER (Authority G.S. Section 143-318.11 (a) (6)) The motion to move into Closed Session: Personnel Matter (Authority G.S. Section 143-318.11 (a) (6)) was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines, seconded by Ron Cammarata and carried without dissent. VI. MOVE TO OPEN SESSION AND ADJOURN The motion to adjourn from closed session and return to open session and approve minutes of the closed session was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Barry Adler and carried without dissent The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines, seconded by Mel Hurston and carried without dissent. The Board of Health meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held on July 22, 1999 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director Secretary to the Board RLS:plb