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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH minutes 092399MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 1 September 23, 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, SEPTEMBER 23, 1999 AT THE SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER IN CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA. BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Ives, Rick Marinshaw, Barry Adler, Janet Southerland, Beverly Foster, Mel Hurston, Barbara Chavious, Jonathan Klein, Brenda Crowder-Gaines BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Barry Jacobs, Ron Cammarata STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Division Director; Eileen Kugler, Personal Health Division Director; Cornelia Ramsey, Health Education; Patsy Bateman, Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: David Hutson and Paul Weller, Well Drillers and Brigette Stephenson and Marta Pearson, UNC Public Health Students. I. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Dr. Ives called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. II. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Dr. Beverly Foster was presented a plaque from the Board of Health for 9 years of service to the Board by Dr. Tim Ives, Chair of the Board. The Board expressed appreciation for her leadership and dedication. III. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT  NC Health Choice statewide figures show that Orange County achieved 100% at the end of August. In addition to the 474 that are now signed up for Health Choice, another 470 children are registered for Medicaid. More than 900 children can now go to the doctor and receive dental care where they had no coverage last year. The local coalition had a meeting at the end of August to plan for re- enrollment since the one-year anniversary is coming up. The Glaxo awards luncheon at NCPHA was cancelled since more than half the health departments had left for home because of Floyd. The state is having an anniversary celebration on 9/28 in Raleigh. Rosemary Summers has been asked to say a few words on behalf of local health departments represented on coalitions.  The health department spent part of last week getting ready to respond to Floyd. A schedule for three days of nursing coverage at each of the shelters was worked out. Sandy Garrett was the only nurse at the Chapel Hill shelter and Delores Butler was the only nurse at the Hillsborough shelter. A press release was ready to go with important clean-up and safety information. A generator was hooked up at the Whitted building and tested, however the refrigerator and freezer are not currently on the “grid” that is hooked to the generator.  To date the Health Department has sent two nurses and an animal control officer down east. Other nurses and environmental health staff are on a ”call list” waiting to be called after the floodwaters recede. The state emergency operations center is asking for 48-hour rotations from staff members that are sent. There is no word yet what the situation is like for the actual health departments, but many of the staff have been displaced. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 2 September 23, 1999  The first meeting of the Orange County Asthma Coalition is next week. Providers have expressed interest in attending and participating. There is a small amount of money available ($7,500) to ten counties on a competitive basis for local asthma projects.  There is also money available from the state ($5,000) that can be sought for projects to reduce the disparity in minority health indicators. This money is a one-time allocation through the Office of Minority Health.  The kick-off of Senior Vaccination Season is on October 9th at Kerr Drug in University Mall. Board members were encouraged to attend.  Board members were reminded about Octoberfest on October 2nd in Efland at the Efland Schools grounds.  Cornelia Ramsey and Rosemary Summers are in discussion with United Way and UNC Hospital about the possibility of holding the Healthy Carolinians annual meeting in November as a “State of the Health of Orange County” breakfast. This widespread community forum would present the most current health data for the county and outline the most significant issues. This idea will be presented at the Healthy Carolinians meeting next week.  LaFiesta Del Pueblo Cornelia Ramsey reported there was an excellent response from the Hispanic community in attendance at LaFiesta. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA (September 23, 1999) AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES (August 26, 1999) A. APPROVE AGENDA (August 26, 1999) and MINUTES (July 22, 1999) The agenda of September 23, 1999 was amended to add: Section V. ACTION ITEMS, D. Grant Proposal to EPA The minutes of August 26, 1999 were approved. The motion to amend the Agenda of September 23, 1999 and approve the Minutes of August 26, 1999 as stated above was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Jonathan Klein and carried without dissent. V. ACTION ITEMS A. APPOINTMENT OF NURSE TO BOARD OF HEALTH VACANCY At the Board of Health’s direction, staff obtained labels from the NC Board of Nursing of all Orange County registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s level preparation. Over 900 labels were obtained and mailed with a letter inviting nurses to apply if they were interested. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 September 23, 1999 The Orange County Clerk’s Office received and forwarded 33 applications from nurses. A Committee consisting of Beverly Foster, current nursing representative on the Board, Eileen Kugler, the Personal Health Services Division Director, and Rosemary Summers reviewed the applications using the criteria in the Board mailing. The criteria were applied to all 33 applications and two candidates were selected to be interviewed. The Board of Health voted to forward Martha Stucker’s name to the Board of County Commissioners to be appointed to the Board of Health position of a registered nurse. The Board of Health unanimously voted to forward the name of Martha Stucker as the Board of Health’s recommendation for appointment to the Board of Health in the registered nurse position to the Board of County Commissioners. B. ADOPTION OF WELLS RULES AMENDMENTS The Board considered amendments to the Groundwater Protection Rules in April, leaving unresolved a matter of an affidavit as an exception for shallow wells (less than 63 feet cased or lined). County attorney review was requested and the draft now being proposed eliminates the affidavit or waiver as an option and requires a certain depth and flow rate to be established. The rules amendments will be in effect as of December 1, 1999. Specific changes are attached. The motion to adopt the Groundwater Protection Rules Amendment as stated above and to be effective December 1, 1999 was made by Jonathan Klein, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. C. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES FOR “WOMEN’S HEALTH PASSPORT” The Women’s Health Passport was developed in 1998 as a tool for the health department’s breast and cervical cancer control program. There has been interest expressed by private providers and UNC Hospitals in using the tool for their own clients. At the end of the fiscal year 1998-99, the health department received permission from the NC Department of Health and Human Services Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program to reprint the document utilizing unexpended funds. The provision attached to permission was that funds generated through the distribution of the document were to be utilized within the program itself. A distribution plan has been developed for the document and was enclosed with the Board packet. The department is requesting that a fee be established in the amount of $3.99 per copy which will cover the cost of printing, plus a small $1.20 shipping and handling fee. The motion to forward the recommendation to approve a fee of $3.99 per copy for the “Women’s Health Passport” to the Board of County Commissioners was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and carried without dissent. D. GRANT PROPOSAL TO EPA The EPA is offering one-time funds for the development of local programs that support on-site wastewater management. Because these are one-time funds, the staff decided to write this grant to support the initial development of the GIS database rather than propose to fund the ongoing educational effort. This grant application is due September 30th. The WTMP Expansion Proposal has not yet been reviewed or approved by the Board of County Commissioners. It is anticipated that it will be on the Commissioners agenda either in late October or early November. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 4 September 23, 1999 The motion to endorse the preparation of the grant application and authorize it to be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency for funding consideration was made by Rick Marinshaw, seconded by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and carried without dissent. VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT (HOMELESS YOUTH) Last spring there was community concern in Chapel Hill regarding the homeless youth. A task force was developed and met several times. This particular group of kids were not necessarily homeless, but just didn’t want to go to their respective homes. The task force stated that there were needs specific for this group but that a youth shelter was not necessarily what was needed. A recurring need was identified for a youth coordinator. Janet Southerland suggested the involvement of Healthy Carolinians and possibly Department of Social Services. Street Scene in Chapel Hill has been used in the past by homeless youth. The Town of Chapel Hill contributes a small amount to Street Scene so that the homeless youth will have a place to go. B. REPORTS FROM BOARD LIAISONS Dr. Ives informed the Board that Dr. William Beel, who was Barry Adler’s predecessor, passed away recently. The Board discussed how to go about sending cards, flowers, etc. to Board members, their families, past Board members, etc. It was decided that either the Chair of the Board or the Health Director would take care of this and then pass the hat to the other Board members. Dr. Beverly Foster reported on the HSAC Latino Forum held last week at the UNC Friday Center. Dr. Foster said it was well attended. Also attending were Latino community members who spoke to participants in the Forum. The report will be coming forth this winter with recommendations. VII. MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION: Personnel Matter (Authority G.S. Section 143-318.11(a) (6)) The motion to move into closed session was made by Barbara Chavious, seconded by Brenda Crowder-Gaines and carried without dissent. VIII. MOVE TO OPEN SESSION AND ADJOURN The motion to move into open session was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines, seconded by Beverly Foster and carried without dissent. The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Brenda Crowder-Gaines, seconded by Barbara Chavious and carried without dissent. The Board of Health meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held on October 28, 1999 at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Respectfully submitted, Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Health Director MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH September 23, 1999 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 5 September 23, 1999 Secretary to the Board RLS:plb