Minutes 01-21-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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specifies the location as being Carr Mill Mall, and he would like to be able to look for other suitable space in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro area. Based on the manager's suggestion, Commissioner Gordon amended her motion to state that the Commissioners are not endorsing the closure of the dental clinic at Carr Mill Mall until a suitable alternate space is obtained in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro area. Health Director Rosemary Summers said that the Health Department is ok with this interim plan. She said that it is challenging because the space in Carrboro is only open two days a week. She said that it is difficult to maintain a stable population of patients because they cannot get an appointment with the limited hours. Unless services can be expanded significantly at the Southern location to accommodate additional patients, then they will lose the population base there. She said that Carr Mill is mainly serving uninsured patients, which is eroding the financial base to provide the services. She said that moving the entire operation to the Whitted Center gives us a chance to test out the model of transporting patients by the bus service and maintain the percentage of income. Commissioner Gordon said that this sounds like a consolidation of services in Hillsborough and she cannot support that. She hopes that the Board will vote for her motion and not take definitive action tonight on the dental clinic. Commissioner Pelissier said that this would not be a definitive decision, except for the schools. Rosemary Summers said that the real need for the Health Department is for the personal health clinic. Commissioner Yuhasz said that this situation has been complicated with the motion. He is in favor of approving the additional space for the schools and the Health Department, but he is not in favor of making a commitment to an ongoing dental clinic in an area where it may not be effective. Commissioner Hemminger agreed and said that the motion was too confusing and she does not want to hold up the process of the rest of the Health Department moving. She asked that the dental clinic be uncoupled from the motion. Commissioner Jacobs suggested taking out the last sentence under#1 in the abstract. A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to: Reallocate space within the Whitted Building as follows: 1. Basement level of Building A will be allocated for use by the Health Department (see attached drawing #1). This reallocation of space will enable the Health Department to develop clinic space to meet operational space requirements for the next three to five years, pending future decisions relative to the Hillsborough Commons project. The Health Director has expressed an interest in moving medical clinical services to the expansion area, thereby providing some much needed expansion area for the Dental Clinic. (last sentence was removed by Commissioner Jacobs) OPC Mental Health contractors currently occupying space on this level will be encouraged to seek alternative arrangements in order to allow the orderly development of clinic space on the lower level.