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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> March 22, 2023 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality <br /> of life, promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County <br /> community. <br /> THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON March 22, 2023, at the Orange <br /> County Health Department, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, INC. <br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Keith Bagby— Chair, Commissioner Jamezetta <br /> Bedford, Brian Crandell, Lee Pickett, Shielda Rodgers, Alison Stuebe, and Tony Whitaker. <br /> BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce Baldwin and Aparna Jonnal. <br /> STAFF PRESENT: Quintana Stewart, Health Director; Dr. Stephanie George, Dental Director; <br /> Victoria Hudson, Environmental Health Director; Carla Julian, Compliance Manager; and La <br /> Toya Strange, Administrative Support I. <br /> GUESTS/VISITORS PRESENT: None. <br /> I. Welcome New Employees <br /> Quintana Stewart, Health Director, introduced the new employees in attendance: Amber Benner <br /> — Registered Dietitian Program Coordinator, Ana Chavez— Patient Account Tech, Folayemi <br /> Olawolu-Adeleke — PHN II CD, Jacqueline Verrier— PHN II CD, and Lena Wegner— <br /> Communications Manager. <br /> Ms. Stewart also acknowledged Dr. Stephanie George, the new Dental Director, who was also <br /> in attendance. <br /> II. Public Comment for Items NOT on Printed Agenda: None. <br /> III. Approval of the March 22, 2023 Agenda <br /> Motion to approve the agenda of the March 22, 2023 BOH meeting with an amendment to <br /> move the order of the Board Comments to before the Action Items was made by Sheilda <br /> Rodgers, seconded by Dr. Brian Crandell and carried without dissent. <br /> IV. Board Comments <br /> Tony Whitaker <br /> Mr. Whitaker commented about his fairly expansive view of what is considered public <br /> health. He mentioned that there is a broad range of topics for the Board to consider when <br /> thinking about public health. He has become more impressed with the way society misuses <br /> guns which leads to all kinds of negative health outcomes — intentional and unintentional. <br /> He stated that 60% of gun-related deaths are suicides. He also voiced that when a person <br /> attempts suicide with a gun; they are 85% more successful. This has led him to be more <br /> concerned with the mental health of our youth and their access to guns. He read the NC <br /> Child Fatality Task Force Report that identified some disturbing trends amongst guns and <br /> youth. Poor mental health with easy gun access equals a bad combination. He'd like to <br /> start thinking about the way we live with guns as a public health issue. He mentioned that <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda &Abstracts\2023 Agenda &Abstracts/ <br /> March Page 1 <br />