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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 26, 2010 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 2 May 26, 2010 Thornhill replied that North Carolina was one of 28 states with a comprehensive smoke- free law in effect. NC is the number one tobacco producer in the nation and advocacy for smoke-free air laws has been going on for eighteen years in this state through incremental policy changes over time, whereas the other states only had a few years to work on it. One of the important parts of NC House Bill 2 is that it annulled the law that did not allow local governments to pass their own clean air ordinances. She strongly suggested the next step be educating employers to the benefits of smoke-free workplaces. Christopher Cooke, speaking from his background in advocacy, asked Ms. Thornhill why there was no grassroots movement in public health considering all the benefits public health bestows to everybody in the community. Ms. Thornhill replied that she felt there was a strong grassroots network around certain public health issues. Sometimes it boils down to what it takes to motivate a person to become engaged. She also stated that sometimes public health issues are not as visceral as other issues that gain an activist’s attention more easily. Paul Chelminsky made reference to the obesity problem in this country, stating that its roots go back to policies developed in the 70’s and that as a result we have cheap calories without food inflation. He stated that this is the first country in the history of the world to make its poorest people the fattest. Ms. Thornhill stated that in addition we are one of the first countries in the world where the fattest people are also the most malnourished. She said that public health can work effectively with food industry partners to turn some of these issues around. Policy mandates may not be the best strategy; access to food may be a better approach to take. Rosemary Summers asked how, because of the broad reach of public health issues, the Board should deal with issues that cross lines of departmental responsibilities that others think you should not be a part of and to promote teamwork among those involved. Ms. Thornhill said that a focus on the problem you are meeting about should help and all rivalries should be left behind. The purpose of solving the one issue should be clearly stated at the beginning of the meeting. Steve Yuhasz said that at one point it was mentioned that Orange County had some opportunities to do things that the other counties might not and he asked Ms. Thornhill to elaborate. She stated that Orange County has a reputation for being more progressive due to the fact of the large percentage of its population base is rooted in academics and that base is generally interested in being more progressive. Looking back on the historical record, Orange County was one of the first to improve mobility and access to the community. Orange County was the first to pass a comprehensive smoke-free worksite policy in 1992, and in fact, became a model for other county’s smoke-free policies. Commissioner Yuhasz asked if other jurisdictions look to Orange County to be a test bed of policy. Ms. Thornhill replied that other counties look to Orange County for innovation but they are also going to question it on occasion. II. Welcome and Introductions