Orange County NC Website
48 <br />Mr. Parkinson replied that this was correct. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson asked if one county could contract with <br />another county with an inter-local agreement to provide program ser- <br />vices? <br />Mr. Parkinson replied, "Xes, this is being done with some scattered <br />incidents in North Carolina." <br />Mr. Gustaveson inquired of potential problems that the County might <br />encounter. He stated that he had listed inadequate budget propagation, <br />the transition problem of administration and recruiting. "What other <br />pitfalls are there?" - <br />Mr. Parkinson stated that one problem would be the redistribution <br />of the existing staff and the administrated problems such as retire- <br />ment system and social security: These matters xequire resolutions by <br />the Board of Commissioners in the district. xowever, he added thak the <br />biggest problem is the financial area. <br />He added that each program will be looked at separately by the <br />funding source as to which County the program will remain in. <br />Chairman whitted stated that Orange County should schedule a meeting <br />with representatives from the Regional Office to talk about these specific <br />programs and determine the district arrangement of the specific program <br />and haw they relate to other counties. <br />The question was asked that if Orange County withdrew and this left <br />two counties to the North and two counties to the South of Orange County, <br />could these four counties continue as a district. <br />Mr. Parkinson replied "yes" they could continue to operate as a <br />four county district. <br />Discussion ensued as to why Orange County was considering options <br />for providing health services other than the district arrangement. <br />Chairman Whitted stated that for a number of years this Board has <br />been concerned with making appropriations to the district agency and <br />had felt we were not getting the type of information to judge as to <br />whether or not the district health arrangement was cost effective or <br />not. He spoke of the formation of the Orange County Community Health <br />Task Force which had experienced problems in gathering information from <br />the District Health Department to provide to the Commissioners. He <br />stated that one concern of the Board was the representation on the District <br />Health Board. That this representation was not broad enough to speak to <br />all the needs in Orange County. Dr. Fuller had advised the Board that <br />Advisory Boards would be set up for the district to provide broader repre- <br />sentation (this was told to us in October of 1975). The Board has express- <br />ed the need for a Health Administrator and no movement has been made on <br />the Advisory Boards nor the Health Administrator. Mr. Whitted added that <br />Orange County has been concerned about the district board involving itself <br />in the policy and decision making of the District Health Board. Further, <br />he stated that the County Task Force appeared before the District Health <br />Board to present an interim report and came away with less than a favor- <br />able impression because of the reception they received. <br />Commissionez Gustaveson stated that he felt` the leadership role of <br />the Director is tao much for one man who also does the clinical work. <br />Dr. Fuller admitted this at past meetings and has said that a top <br />priority is to hire a Health Administrator. This has been said many <br />times, however, no movement has been made to carry out these top <br />priorities. He added that over the years, the District Board has not <br />been responsive to the particular needs of Orange County and the leader- <br />ship of the Department has not been responsive .to this Board of Commis- <br />sioners. He added that the people we represent in Orange County are <br />deeply concerned. He said it was his feelings, and the feelings of <br />other members of this Board that the County should consider the question <br />of moving on some important questions of health care in Orange County. <br />He reiterated that the Board had not come to this question hastily, but <br />had given it much consideration and wants to look at all the implications <br />and consequences involved, not only to Orange County, but to the other <br />