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APPROVED 11!712001 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />WORK SESSION <br />APRIL 16, 2001 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with the Orange County Board of Health on <br />Monday, April 16, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. in the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis and Commissioners Margaret W. <br />Brown (arrived at 6:30), Moses Carey, Jr., and Barry Jacobs <br />BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jonathan Klein and members Barry Lynn Adler, <br />Melvin Hurston, Alan E. Rimer, Martha Jane Stucker, Janet H. Southerland, Sharon E. Van Horn, Lee D. <br />Werley III and Alice White <br />COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. <br />Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below} <br />NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA <br />FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. <br />1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS <br />Chair Halkiotis welcomed everyone to the meeting and everyone was introduced. <br />2. ITEMS FOR DISCU551ON <br />a. Strategic Plan for Orange County Health Department <br />Dr. Klein thanked the County Commissioners for taking time from their busy schedules to hear <br />their presentation. He said that this process took approximately two years. The focus of the plan is on <br />strengthening mandated services because these services are critical to protecting the overall health of the <br />public. He made a presentation. In summary Dr. Klein focused his presentation on high priority areas far the <br />next year of the multiyear plan. This plan identifies gaps and weaknesses in services which is the basis the <br />Board of Health will use for justifying additional programming needs. <br />Alan Rimer said that the plan includes a report on wells and on-site wastewater treatment, <br />food, lodging and institutional inspections and WTMP expansion. He emphasized that in 1999 a study was <br />done at UNC which reported that the County is only providing 1/3 of the essential functions which are <br />necessary for our citizens. The plan is recommending one additional staff person which will reduce the <br />waiting time for permits to 1-2 weeks, work to identify failing systems and repair strategies and prevent <br />waterborne disease outbreaks. The plan also includes one additional environmental health specialist for the <br />food and lodging program and one environmental health educator for awareness and education effort. The <br />Board of Health recommends one new person. <br />Lee W rley III did the presentation starting with communicable diseases. The average cost of <br />caring for a patient with TB is $20,000 per year. Six months of screening and preventive therapy costs <br />$7,112 per case. He said that there is a 350% increase in communicable diseases. There is a need to <br />increase outreach, education and surveillance. Regarding sexually transmitted infections, they need to <br />integrate clinical functions at bath sites to optimize service delivery. One thing that would help in this effort <br />would be to have computers, modems and software. <br />Melvin Hurston talked about nutrition therapy and clinical health education services. He <br />emphasized that the Health Department is not in compliance with maintenance of health education & nutrition <br />protocols. Childhood obesity rates are high and adolescent eating disorders are rising. They need to review, <br />revise and update protocols. The plan proposes a registered dietician with health education skills. He <br />