MEIGS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 112 E. Memorial Drive, Suite A Pomeroy, Ohio (740) Fax (740) MEIGS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Board of Health Meeting Minutes February 9, 2016 Board of Health (BOH) President Roger Gaul called the convention to order at 5:00 PM. In attendance: Gaul; BOH Member Jim Clifford, Jr.; BOH Medical Member James Witherell, MD; District Advisory Board/Licensing Council BOH Member Marty Cline; Administrator Courtney Midkiff; Director of Environmental Health Steve Swatzel; Health Commissioner (HC) Aimee Imbrosciano, who entered at 5:05PM. Absent was BOH Vice President Gene Jeffers. Gaul suggested deviating from the agenda to facilitate an early exit for Swatzel. Environmental Health: Swatzel provided updates on the status of nuisances. 1. There was a Grand Jury Hearing recently conducted in the opening dumping case of Brent Cooper, who operated the scrap and salvage yard at the intersection of SR 7 and SR 143 outside Pomeroy. The Health District is awaiting the outcome. 2. The Prosecutor is pursuing legal action against Keith Pickens who failed to connect to the public sewer system in the Tackerville area of Racine. Swatzel reported that the Health District recently purchased several trail cameras for surveillance of open dumpsites to gain evidence for legal referrals to the Prosecutor. Swatzel said that the Health District is in receipt of a legal opinion from the Prosecutor that camera in use signage does not have to be posted and, in order for the pictures to be used as evidence, they most show the violators face and license plate. Swatzel gave an update on the Karrten Landfill license, which should have been renewed on 1/1/16. The owners: Chris Tenoglia and Wes Karr are working with Farmers Bank and Savings Co. to obtain the required $75,000 financial assurance. Conditions are the facilities are undergoing repairs with more dirt needing placed over the debris materials. Swatzel and Midkiff will meet with OEPA representatives on Feb. 11 th to discuss the status of the licensure. Swatzel relayed that Tenoglia blames the Health District for not approving the proposed landfill expansion. The Ohio EPA reviewed the documentation of the proposed expansion and described several deficiencies. Swatzel explained that the decision to approve/disapprove was the responsibility of the BOH. Swatzel described the main deficiency or concern was for the protection of the water table in the proposed area. Additional information from Karrten and/or their engineer would be required to move forward with the approval of the expansion.

2 Don Dunfee, a septic system installer has applied for renewal of his license. According to O.A.C (C)(5), a contractor requesting renewal must have completed 6 continuing education hours during the previous calendar year (2015). Mr. Dunfee obtained only 3 CEU s in 2015 and has requested a variance from this rule. The Ohio Department of Health suggested the variance be granted IF Mr. Dunfee obtains 3 additional CEU s in 2016 that can be added to the 3 CEU s obtained in Mr. Dunfee then must obtain 6 additional CEU s in 2016 to meet renewal requirements for Witherell made a motion to grant Dunfee s variance request; Clifford seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion.the Health District has registered eight septic installers to date for Midkiff asked for a motion to approve the resignation of Coleen Murphy-Smith, RS effective 4PM on 2/12/16. Murphy-Smith has accepted the position of Meigs County Dog Warden effective 2/15/16. Gaul made a motion to approve Murphy-Smith s resignation; Cline seconded the motion. Motion carried The Health District advertised for a registered sanitarian (RS) or sanitarian-in-training (SIT) via numerous mediums and associations and is in receipt of an application from only one viable candidate: Dawn Keller to date. It was noted that there is a shortage of licensed personnel in Southeastern Ohio. Swatzel and Midkiff interviewed Keller today. She possesses a Bachelor s Degree of Science in Environmental Geography and a Certificate of Environmental Studies both issued by Ohio University and she is a resident of Vinton County. If no other viable applications are received by noon on Feb. 12 th, Keller will be offered the SIT position. She will have to contact the State Board of Sanitarian Registration board to obtain her license as such. Employee Relations Audit (ERA): Imbrosciano provided an update on the ERA conducted by Clemans, Nelson & Associates in Dec upon Imbrosciano s request with BOH approval. She described the ERA as a learning experience. Imbrosciano stated that she and many staff members had concerns about the methods the firm s attorney used to conduct staff interviews and with the survey the firm used. Imbrosciano voiced dissatisfaction with the firm s performance to Senior Consultant Andrew Esposito. At the January staff meeting, Imbrosciano again voiced dissatisfaction with the ERA and suggested that a committee comprised of staff members (excluding herself and Midkiff) be convened to compile a human resource survey with which to obtain feedback from employees. Five staff members volunteered and a survey was issued on Feb. 4 th for completion by employees and was made available to the BOH. Completed surveys are due by Feb. 19 th. Upon receipt, the committee will compile quantifiable results and offer solutions to any problems identified. Imbrosciano ed Esposito on Feb. 8 th to advise that the committee has done its due diligence, and represents the needs of all employees. Based on their recommendation, we will not be moving forward with the ERA process at this time. In mid Jan., Clemans, Nelson & Associates issued an invoice to the Health District reflecting mileage and work completed on the ERA in the amount of $1, Midkiff presented a copy of the invoice to the Membership. Midkiff ed the invoice to Imbrosciano on Jan. 14 th and 21 st for approval of payment because Imbrosciano had stated in the Jan. staff meeting that she did not feel the Health District should remunerate the firm for the unsatisfactory work it has generated to date on the ERA. Imbrosciano said that she was unaware of the invoice and that she must have missed seeing the ed correspondences. After brief discussion, Midkiff sought BOH support to pay the invoice in full for the work completed by Clemans, Nelson & Associates upon the Health District s request. The Membership concurred that the firm should be fully remunerated for the resources it expended on the ERA. Swatzel exited the meeting at 5:39PM.

3 Approval of Meeting Minutes: Midkiff asked for a motion to approve the 1/12/16 BOH Meeting Minutes as mailed for Member review. Gaul made a motion to approve the document as mailed; Clifford seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. Fiscal Report: Midkiff requested a motion to approve the January fiscal report as presented. The available total cash balance equaled $73, The Health District was able to retain a $90,000 budgeted carry over. Cline made a motion to approve the fiscal reports as presented; Gaul seconded the motion. Motion carried New Business: Midkiff asked for a motion to approve the payment of the Jan expenditure spreadsheet as presented. Gaul made a motion to approve the payment of the Jan. bills as presented; Clifford seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. Midkiff beseeched a motion to approve the Jan. daily deposit records as submitted to the County Auditor/Treasurer. Clifford made a motion to approve the daily deposit records as presented; Gaul seconded the motion. Motion carried Midkiff asked for a motion to approve the Jan. financial transactions (Advances, Transfers, Adjustments, Corrections, and Appropriations and Then and Now Certificate) as presented. Witherell made a motion to approve the financial transactions as presented; Clifford seconded the motion. Motion carried Midkiff solicited a motion to approve the Jan. donations as presented in the amount of $12. Cline made a motion to approve the donations as presented; Gaul seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. Imbrosciano stated that she had not yet compiled a part-time HC job description as requested by the BOH because earlier today she had received notice that copies of job descriptions including the core competencies of public health (which are required for accreditation) may be available from another county in the near future. Imbrosciano did present a part-time job description for HC/Medical Director Dr. Gaskell that she received from the Athens City-County Health Department, which was circulated for Member review and comment. Midkiff said, in all likelihood, the HC job description that includes the core competencies would probably be for a full-time position and would have to be adapted to reflect part-time duties. Gaul affirmed that a solid part-time HC job description is needed because this most likely would be a part-time position in Meigs County for the foreseeable future. No action was taken and this matter will be revisited during the March BOH meeting. Midkiff briefly informed attendees about a WIC personnel matter that seems to be in progress toward resolution. No Executive Session was necessary. Other New Business: The Auditor of State awarded Charles E. Harris & Associates, Inc. the Health District s contract to audit for the fiscal period(s) Jan. 1, 2014-December 31, Midkiff signed and returned the Memorandum of Agreement and Certification of Compliance as requested. The anticipated start date for the audit is 4/1/16.

4 The Health District s Creating Healthy Communities grant program will be assisting the Village of Middleport with construction of a splash park. This project was recently approved by the new Village Council after being rejected by the former Village Council in Dec The District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting will be held on March 29, 2016 at 6PM at the Meigs EMA/911 Emergency Operations Center on Pomeroy Pike. The terms of Gaul and Cline will expire in March. Gaul expressed his interest in being considered for another term while Cline advised that we would not accept another term. Cline stated that he is pursuing a higher education degree and would not have sufficient time to devote to the BOH. Midkiff solicited suggestions of potential candidates to present to the DAC. She reminded attendees that the BOH could choose to retain the District Licensing Council if it so desired, but that the District Licensing Council is no longer required by the Ohio Revised Code. Old Business: Midkiff informed the Membership that a meeting was held on Feb. 2 with County Commissioner Randy Smith and two members of the TB Board: Chuck Riffle and Shawn Arnott to discuss the future provision of Tuberculosis (TB) services within the County. TB Clinic employees Carol Little and Jill Cumings were also in attendance. Midkiff and Leanne Cunningham, Director of Nursing represented the Health District. During the meeting, Smith again reiterated to the TB representatives that the new levy will need worded to better reflect the work for which the money actually is being expended. The TB Board meets quarterly with the next regular meeting to be held in March; therefore, Smith encouraged the TB representatives to convene a special meeting so decisions can be made as how to move forward in the process so that there is adequate time to get all documentation approved and to the Board of Elections by the August deadline for the Nov. General Election. The Health District will not apply for the competitive Ohio Department of Health grant funds for the Fiscal Year 2017 (4/1/16-3/31/21) Reproductive Health and Wellness Program (RHWP). There are too many unfunded mandates that could fiscally jeopardize the agency. Much research and thought was devoted to making the decision and input was sought from community stakeholders. The RHWP has experienced an increased patient no show rate over the years. Services will terminate on 3/31/16. Staff will be researching other avenues to generate revenue for the nursing division including contracting with the County s school districts for head lice screening and eradication. Miscellaneous Business: Midkiff shared the Public Health Accreditation Board s new five-tier fee structure with the Membership. The structure (effective 6/30/16) bases accreditation fees on the size of the jurisdictional population served by the health department. For a county the size of Meigs, the initial accreditation review fee is $14,000. There is now an annual accreditation services fee of $5,600 for a County the size of Meigs. It was noted that fees are subject to review for potential cost of living allowance increases annually. The BOH opted not to view the CE presentation entitled Succession Planning for your Health Commissioner: What it is and why should we do it? from the 2015 Ohio Association of Boards of Health Resource DVD in an effort to shorten the meeting for attendee safety purposes because of current inclement weather and road conditions. The Health District will close in observance of the following holiday: Feb. 15 th Presidents Day.

5 The next BOH Meeting will take place on 03/8/16 at 5:00 PM in the conference room of the Meigs County Health Department. With no further business to discuss, Clifford made a motion to adjourn the convention at 6:15PM; Gaul seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. Aimee Imbrosciano, MSN, MPH Health Commissioner (Administrator Courtney C. Midkiff, BSC, transcribed the 02/09/16 BOH Meeting Minutes on 02/12/16.)