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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />August 28, 2008 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 6 August 28, 2008 <br />Moses Carey agreed that it would be good to get an opinion from the county <br />attorney. <br /> <br />Tim Carey moved and the Board decided by consensus to have staff draft a request <br />to the County Attorney for a legal opinion and to also contact other counties with <br />similar circumstances. <br /> <br />C. Immigrant Health Update <br /> <br />Donna King reported that news articles, Op Ed pieces and emails are circulating in <br />response to the Alamance County Health Department’s work note investigation and <br />the subsequent arrest of a local Alamance librarian. (See the News & Observer and <br />Burlington Times News archives for more details) It is the practice of the Orange <br />County Health Department to write work notes only to the names recorded in our <br />patients’ records. By law we are to serve all residents regardless of immigration <br />status, therefore we do not inquire or attempt to verify citizenship. We have placed <br />a Spanish message on our website to reassure clients of their privacy and our <br />mission to serve and protect the health of all those living in Orange County. <br /> <br />The events in Alamance County have also resulted in Latinos in the Triangle, <br />especially Orange County, reporting rumors of white vans picking up people at <br />worksites, Wal-Mart, Carrboro Plaza, etc. Families have been limiting travel outside <br />their homes and have talked about returning to Mexico. Promotion of the statewide <br />August 8th traffic stops (08.08.08 Drunk Driving Prevention Campaign) fueled many <br />more rumors and fear of raids. We had several clients cancel their August 8th clinic <br />appointments for fear of being stopped without proper documentation. <br /> <br />El Pueblo Inc., N.C. Latino Coalition and the N.C. Justice Center investigated the <br />various rumors and did not substantiate any of the reports. This group did distribute <br />information with guidelines regarding traffic stops, an explanation of the 08.08.08 <br />Campaign and Immigration and Customs Enforcement /ICE’s 287(g) Criminal Alien <br />Program. Additional information may be had at <br />http://www.ncimmigrants.org/update-to-advocates-leaders-06aug08.pdf <br /> <br />D. Potential Topics for Joint BOCC/BOH October Meeting <br /> <br />Staff presented some preliminary topics for the joint meeting with Commissioners on <br />October 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 will be the date and Board members were reminded to <br />keep this on their calendars for this joint meeting. The Board will meet for its <br />regular monthly meeting right after this joint session. It will be important to have as <br />many Board members as possible at this meeting. By consensus the Board <br />expressed their desire to study the wide range of discussion topics presented and <br />defer a decision on specifics until the next meeting. <br /> <br />E. Review of Existing Systems Policies and Procedures <br /> <br />The Board recently received copies of a report to the BOCC regarding existing <br />system authorization process for Environmental Health and a summary of a permit <br />denial for the Samuel Thompson property. Whenever a project is proposed that <br />requires a building permit on property served by a septic system, the law and rules <br />require Environmental Health to make a determination: <br />• that the existing septic system is functioning properly, <br />• that the construction will not encroach upon the existing septic system, and