Approved Minutes of June 26, 2024

Browse Search

MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH June 26, 2024 B. Media Items Libbie Hough, Communications Manager, presented the media packet to the board. Topics included the NC Masking legislation, which had been vetoed by Governor Cooper, and an article acknowledging UNC Hospitals as a leading hospital for addressing healthcare needs for insufficiently served populations. Ms. Hough also mentioned recent legislation around the legalization of medicinal cannabis in NC. Media items were in the packet, which focused on Orange County's events, our involvement in various efforts, and various public health topics. C. Health Directors Report Ms. Stewart presented her report to the Board. Below are brief highlights of her report. • Each board member received a new copy of Suggested Rules and Procedures for Local Government Boards, a guidebook for local appointed boards based on Robert's Rules of Order to help provide training and ensure the board follows suggested procedure. • Ms. Stewart drew board members' attention to the upcoming training by the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health, which will be held on July 22" • In reference to the evening's presentation on communicable diseases, Ms. Stewart provided board members with two one-page information sheets from the CDC, one on Pertussis and one on Rabies. • Ms. Stewart shared that many counties in NC with large populations of dairy and poultry farms have begun testing their stray and feral cat populations for H5N1 Influenza, though Orange County has not yet been affected. • Per Ms. Perry's presentation, as of July 1st, the Alliance Tailored Plan will be launching to better serve community members on Medicaid with complex behavioral health needs. • The BOCC passed the 2024-2025 budget. Ms. Stewart explained that while the Health Department saw a $50,000 reduction in the operating budget, the budget still provides well for staff, including a 4% cost-of-living wage increase and sustaining annual merit pay increases. • Retiring County Manager Bonnie Hammersley's retirement celebration was held earlier that day, and it was announced that Deputy County Manager Travis Myren has been promoted to the role of County Manager. • The Attorney General has reached a new opioid settlement with Kroger, which can amount to up to $360,000 more in settlement funds for Orange County over the next ten years. Mr. Bagby asked about the recent community opioid meeting and confirmed that this would be an annual event. He then asked how attendees were to be updated on the meeting results, to which Ms. Stewart explained that all attendees who had signed in at the meeting would receive an email update once new measures go into place, and that information would also be shared on the Orange County website. She added that Tonya Stancil, Harm Reduction Coordinator, and Ms. Hough are working to update the website page on opioids. Mr. Bagby asked if the Opioid Advisory Committee had added a representative from housing to which Ms. Stewart explained that this was up to the BOCC. • As mentioned by Ms. Hough, the recent bill to prohibit masking in public was vetoed by Governor Cooper. Ms. Stewart said that this legislative session has been one of the most interesting and active short sessions of her career. She also noted that the Health Director's Association contracts for a lobbyist as a legislative consultant. Commissioner Fowler and Dr. Stuebe mentioned several recent bills that contained measures unrelated S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2024 Agenda and Abstracts/ June Page 9