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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> January 25, 2023 <br /> • Policy Review/Updates <br /> Tony Whitaker asked if we could create space at the meetings for Board Comments on things <br /> not related to subcommittees. <br /> Director Stewart suggested we explore moving Board Comments to the top of the Agenda <br /> similar to how BOCC allows each Board Member time at the beginning of each meeting to make <br /> comments, not related to agenda items. <br /> Dr. Alison Stuebe asked if the subcommittees could be a Task Force rather than a <br /> subcommittee. Director Stewart explained the subcommittee structure is what the Board has <br /> outlined in the Operating Procedures. If the Board is interested in changing this, the group can <br /> plan to discuss during the retreat and make needed revisions to the Operating Procedures. <br /> Director Stewart asked if an off-site location was a requirement for the retreat, as she is a little <br /> concerned about availability with such short notice. Commissioner Hamilton suggested the <br /> Bonnie B. Davis Center. She shared that the BOCC recently had a meeting there and the facility <br /> was really nice. <br /> D. Media Items <br /> Marcy Williams, Public Health Education Manager, briefly mentioned four articles. There was <br /> an article regarding about the closure of the COVID Vaccine Clinic at the Bonnie B. Davis <br /> Center in Hillsborough. The second article was about UNC Continuation of Lead Testing on <br /> Campus for buildings that have reported contamination. The third article highlighted County <br /> Health Rankings, with Orange County ranked #1 Average Life Expectancy (82.1 years). The <br /> fourth article highlighted OCHD Medical Director, Dr. Erica Pettigrew, as a 2022 Dogwood <br /> Award Recipient from NC Attorney General Josh Stein. <br /> Media items were in the packet, which focused on Orange County's events and our <br /> involvement in various efforts. <br /> E. Health Director Report <br /> Director Stewart highlighted the following items from her report: <br /> • NCALHD 2023 Legislative Priorities include: <br /> 1. Recurring Local Public Health Funding: <br /> o Seek $25M in recurring state appropriation to LHDs. Funds to be prioritized for <br /> communicable disease response, but with flexibility for foundational public health <br /> services at the discretion of local health departments. <br /> 2. Community Health Grant Funding (NCALHD Led) <br /> o Explore reforms to the Community Health Grant fund allocation process to ensure <br /> equitable distribution of funding to LHDs as a key primary and maternal care safety <br /> net provider. <br /> 3. OHSR Staffing Resources <br /> o Request resources for OSHR to hire additional staff to support local government <br /> hiring. <br /> 4. Registered Environmental Health Specialist Requirement Reform (NCALHD Led) <br /> o Reintroduce language from previous legislative session to ease pipeline issues for <br /> REHS staff among LHDs. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda&Abstracts\2023 Agenda &Abstracts/ <br /> January Page 5 <br />