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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 082699MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 1 August 26, 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, AUGUST 26, 1999 AT THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES CENTER IN HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Ives, Rick Marinshaw, Ron Cammarata, Janet Southerland, Beverly Foster, Mel Hurston, Barbara Chavious, Barry Jacobs, Jonathan Klein BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Barry Adler, Brenda Crowder-Gaines STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Division Director; John Sauls, Animal Control Division Director; Cornelia Ramsey, Health Education; Wendy Schwade, N.C. Dental Health Program; Harvey Melton, Animal Control; Patsy Bateman, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Sally Stenland, CCI, Janet Smith, CCI, Mindy Stinner, CCI, Pat Sanford, APS, Douglas Evans, CCI, Dean Edwards, APS; and NCCU Nursing Students – Scarlett Brisson, Tara Latter, Mary Powell, Carolyn Sheffield, Lisa Patterson, Stephan McCarter, Annmarie Sommerville, T. Womble, Marquita Ford I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Dr. Ives called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA (August 26, 1999) AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES (July 22, 1999) A. APPROVE AGENDA (August 26, 1999) and MINUTES (July 22, 1999) The agenda of August 26, 1999 was amended to add IV. F, Model Community Assessment Grants Program and IV. G, Authorize Staff to Apply for Healthy Carolinians Funding from State. The minutes of July 22, 1999 were approved. The motion to amend the Agenda of August 26, 1999 and approve the Minutes of July 22, 1999 as stated above was made by Janet Southerland, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. III. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. NC HEALTH CHOICE Orange County is at 96% enrollment. In addition to the 456 children receiving Health Choice, there are an additional 410 on Medicaid that were not previously receiving services. The Dental Clinic has seen a total of 59 children that are on Health Choice, eight of whom are “new” clients. The Health Choice Task Force is meeting on August 30th for an update and to plan the outreach strategy for re-enrollment. B. CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING The Orange County Health Department is responsible in the state contract addenda for the countywide lead-testing rate. The 1998 data shows Orange County as a whole with a target MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 2 August 26, 1999 population of 2,283 children (target population being under 24 months). In 1998, 13.2% of that target were screened and in 1997 that percentage was 16.8%. The goal for 1999-2000 is to get 25.1% of this age group screened. The Health Department achieves over a 95% test rate for the children it sees in its clinic. The key will be to motivate and educate providers to administer the risk questionnaire and do testing of high-risk children. The Personal Health Division had a group of UNC maternal and child health students do an outreach plan and develop materials for this program last year. Board members may view the complete package on the website. C. WATER AND SEWER BOUNDARY TASK FORCE REPORT Included in the Board packet was a handout of a discussion that the OWASA Board had in February regarding the WSBTF report. This outlined OWASA’s primary concerns with the agreement. There has been at least one discussion/presentation at the Board of Commissioners and another is slated for September. D. WTMP The WTMP Committee met on August 25th. The Board of Health adopted outline and educational plan were distributed and further discussed. Several modifications were made to the outline at the suggestion of the two county commissioners present. Right now this is slated to be on the September 7th Commissioners agenda for discussion and action. Bob Rubin was a guest at the meeting and presented several sources as possibilities for one-time start-up funds. He also mentioned several other sources of potential funding for repairs and loans for homeowners. The Commissioners were interested in pursuing grant funding and asked for a chart of funding sources to be prepared as an addition to the information presented. E. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD The Prevention Committee met August 26th. The Committee will be defining the scope of work. Rosemary Summers would like to see the work of the committee integrated with the current community assessments being completed. F. BIOTERRORIST / TERRORISM PLANNING MEETING Rosemary Summers attended an organizational meeting in conjunction with Nick Waters and public safety representatives to gauge the interest to begin planning a coordinated response. Three sectors were defined as crucial: Law enforcement; Fire/EMS; and Public Health/Hospital. Each of those present will be taking responsibility for defining key players for further planning. G. HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEB PAGE The Health Department will be “on-line” as of September 1st. Access to the web page is through the County web page at www.co.orange.nc.us/Orange. H. RECRUITMENT The Health Director’s office has received 27 applications from RN’s. The Committee expects to have a recommendation for the next Board of Health meeting. IV. ACTION ITEMS A. INHUMANE TRAPS – ORDINANCE REVISION The Board of Health packet included information regarding steel jaw leghold traps, padded leghold traps, conibear traps, snares, and other traps which cause excessive suffering are by design are considered inhumane. Such traps include those that catch or hold an animal through MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 August 26, 1999 gripping, injuring, piercing, or severing any body part, or that attempt to kill by drowning. Questions were raised regarding financial impact to trappers and Pat Sanford of the APS responded that there were only three trappers in Orange County that would lose approximately $300 per season. The motion to forward the proposed ordinance revision regarding Inhumane Traps to the Board of County Commissioners was made by Ron Cammarata, seconded by Rick Marinshaw and carried without dissent. B. ANIMAL SHELTER ADOPTION AND BOARDING FEES Included in the Board packet was a request to raise shelter adoption and boarding fees. Adoption fees have not increased in 10 years. It costs the shelter, and therefore the County, more than the current fee amount to keep and prepare the animal for adoption. This is largely due to veterinary services the animal receives at the shelter before it goes to its new home. The proposed fee increase is for $99 for dogs and $75 for cats. Included in the fee increase for adopting was a $15 charge for microchipping cats and dogs to enable them to be traced to owners if picked up. The motion to forward the proposal to raise Shelter Adoption and Board Fees to the Board of County Commissioners was made by Barbara Chavious , seconded by Ron Cammarata and carried without dissent C. ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATOR APPOINTMENTS Included in the Board packet was a nomination of two APS employees as 19A County- Appointed Cruelty Investigators for 1999-2000. Since September 1994, the Board of Commissioners has each year appointed or reappointed an employee or employees of the APS to act as County-Appointed Cruelty Investigators under Chapter 19A, a law which provides a civil remedy for cruelty to animals. The motion to forward the Animal Cruelty Investigator Appointments to the Board of County Commissioners made by Ron Cammarata, seconded by Jonathan Klein and carried without dissent. D. CONSERVATOR’S CENTER, INC. Board of Health members received information in the Board packet regarding the request by Conservators’ Center, Inc. to establish their operation and pursue their mission in Orange County. Included in the information was the Orange County Ordinance prohibiting the keeping of wild and dangerous animals, a statement from Conservators’ Center, Inc., and related agency information provided by the Conservators’ Center, Inc. Conservators’ Center, Inc. proposes to establish a breeding facility in Orange County for the purpose of breeding wild feline species native to other countries so that the offspring may then be reintroduced to their native habitats in those countries in order to prevent their extinction in their natural environment. Conservators’ Center, Inc. does not propose to be a holding facility for wild animals. Its mission is to preserve the species in its natural environment through captive breeding and reintroduction. Conservators’ Center, Inc. proposes security arrangements that safeguard the people of Orange County by meeting or exceeding the county ordinance standards for primary and secondary enclosures. Conservators’ Center, Inc. seeks to be regulated and inspected by relevant authorities including USDA and Orange County Animal Control. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 August 26, 1999 Mindy Stinner and Douglas Evans of the Conservators’ Center, Inc. presented the Board of Health members and guests with a presentation. The presentation included a slide show showing the types of felines that would live within the Center. Douglas Evans presented a mock layout of how the Center would be developed and built, including cages for the animals. The Board of Health requested more information on diseases the animals may bring into Orange County and more information regarding the breeds of animals proposed. The Board of Health also voted to table the motion until the October Board of Health meeting, after receiving the requested information. The motion to delay consideration of the Conservators’ Center, Inc. proposal until the October Board of Health meeting was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Janet Southerland and carried without dissent. E. REVIEW OF WASTEWATER RULES BY THE N.C. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES The Environmental Health Division of the Orange County Health Department requested authorization for the Health Director to forward the rules “Section .1900 Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems” to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources for review. GS139A-335 (c) requires that the Board of Health forward by specific motion local wastewater rules to the state for review and comment. The motion to authorize the Health Director to forward the rules “Section .1900 Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems” to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources for review and comment in accordance with GS130A-335 (c) was made by Ron Cammarata, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. F. MODEL COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT GRANTS PROGRAM The Health Department is responsible for conducting a biennial community assessment for the entire county. The spring of 2000 is the due date for this cycle’s submission of the completed community assessment to the state. The Office of Healthy Carolinians has distributed a Request for Proposals for Model Community Assessment mini-grants. The award will be a one- time maximum of $20,000 for the Healthy Carolinians partnership. The program is looking for innovative approaches to community health assessment. Upon completion, each funded partnership will be asked to present their model to other counties so the model may be duplicated. Applications are due September 17th and will be awarded November 19th. This Model Community Assessment program is funded by a grant from CDC. The motion to authorize the Health Department to proceed with the application for funds to supplement the required community assessment for Orange County was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. G. AUTHORIZE STAFF TO APPLY FOR HEALTHY CAROLINIANS FUNDING FROM STATE The NC General Assembly has appropriated $1 million in non-recurring funds to support Healthy Carolinians. The state is offering each of the 100 counties an opportunity to apply for this funding, making a total of $10,000 available for each county. Each county has to apply to receive the funds which can be used in a variety of ways. There is a required 50% match which is already available with the Commissioners commitment of 50% funding for the position. The MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 5 August 26, 1999 Health Department’s intention is to prepare the application so that the $10,000 may be used to support the Healthy Carolinians Coordinator position. The required response time for this application is September 30th. The motion to authorize Health Department staff to apply for funding from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for $10,000 to support the Healthy Carolinians Coordinator position approved by the Board of County Commissioners in the 1999-2000 budget was made by Beverly Foster, seconded by Jonathan Klein and carried without dissent. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. GROUNDWATER PROTECTION RULES - WELLS Amendments to the Orange County Groundwater Protection Rules were approved with the contingency that the County Attorney review the provision for the “minimum well casing affidavit” section at the April 22, 1999 Board of Health meeting. This section would have required a minimum amount of well casing or liner pipe for wells with shallower veins of groundwater or would have required the property owner to sign the document stating that they understood the potential problems with using the shallower water. The County Attorney, in review of this matter, did not support the use of this document because he felt it was based, at least in part, in the economics of a particular situation and consequences for health was secondary. After discussion, the Board of Health agreed that the rules should be amended to require a minimum amount of casing of 63 feet regardless of the situation. Ron Holdway of the Environmental Health Division will be inviting the well drillers to the September meeting regarding the rule amendment of the Groundwater Protection Rules. The rule amendment will be placed in the Chapel Hill Herald 10 days prior to the Board meeting in September in accordance with the public comment period required. B. YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT (Homeless Youth) The Youth Steering Committee Report was delayed. C. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS As liaison to the Human Services Advisory Commission, Mel Hurston reported being involved in developing plans for the forum on September 15th. The theme for this year’s forum is Building “Confianza”: Developing Trust and Improving Access to Service to the Hispanic/Latino Community in Orange County. “”Confianza,” a Spanish word, means to have confidence in, or to be familiar with someone or something. Gaining the trust and confidence of the Hispanic/Latino community is the first step toward creating a relationship where Orange County successfully serves the needs of the Hispanic/Latino community. Registration forms were distributed to all Board members. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 26, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 6 August 26, 1999 VI. ADJOURN The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ron Cammarata , seconded by Barbara Chavious 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 September 23, 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