The Stanly County Board of
Health met on February 4, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the
Stanly County Health Department. Board Members present were Larry Faulkner, Teri
Hathcock, Dr. Ann Yowell and Commissioner McIntyre. Staff members present were
Dennis Joyner, Health Director, Judie DeMuth, Debbie Bennett, David Ezzell, Patti
Lewis, Becky McKeon and Thomas Taylor.
Leon Warren attended as media representative.
Vice
Chairman Faulkner called the meeting to order and welcomed those present. Since
a quorum of board members was not present to approve the 1/7/10 meeting
minutes, and no general public was in attendance for comments, the meeting was
turned over to the Health Director.
HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT
The
Health Director updated the board on the agency’s personnel status informing
them that Christi Greer, Health Educator had resigned from her part time position
at the Health Department and accepted a position with the Butterfly House at
Stanly Regional Medical Center. As a
result of this resignation, the Health Department is recruiting for a Health
Educator to coordinate the Partners in Health Coalition and participate in
health promotion activities.
A
decision has been made to reclassify the Smart Start Program RN position left
vacant by the transfer of Cindy Russell to the Health Department’s clinic area
to a Health Educator position, which will result in some cost reduction due to
the lower classification. This position
will utilize the Stanly County Partnership for Children’s Healthy Fundamentals
Program funding and also assist with Smart Start outreach activities.
Reports
on expenditures and revenues as of December 31st was reviewed, and
Mr. Joyner explained that with revenues at 56% at the end of 6 months, most
figures are on target with the budgeted amounts.
Performance
reports for all Health Department programs through the month of December were
reviewed and Mr. Joyner explained that activities in both the animal shelter and
environmental health areas were lower than usual, which was typical for the
winter months.
NEW BUSINESS
The
new No Smoking Law was discussed, and Board Members were informed that local
Health Director’s have the authority to set a fee of up to $200 for repeated
violations of the new law. Director
Joyner stated that his recommendation would be to set the fee at the maximum of
$200 for Stanly County as this is the consensus of the majority of Health
Director’s across the state. After discussion, all board members’ present
supported setting a $200 fine as appropriate for repeated violations of the no smoking
law in Stanly County.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The
status of the current fiscal year budget was discussed and Director Joyner reminded
the board of the County Manager’s request for all county departments to
identify a 2% reduction in budgeted county funds. After review of the Health Departments
budgets, a figure of approximately $35,000 was submitted which included some
drugs/medical supplies, heating costs at the animal shelter, insurance costs, and
the majority resulted from lapsed salaries of vacant positions.
The
budget process for FY2010-11 was discussed and the board was informed that budget
guidance information from county administration was expected after the County
Commissioner’s planning meeting, currently scheduled for 2/26/10. Director Joyner stated that the Board of
Health Budget Committee would probably need to meet in late March or early
April. Commissioner McIntyre added that
the
new County budget would definitely be kept to a minimum.
OTHER BUSINESS
Detailed
information on H1N1 and seasonal Flu activities covering data from May, 2009
thru January, 2010 was reported by Becky McKeon, RN. Since the Health Department still has 884
doses of H1N1 and 1,425 doses of seasonal flu vaccine in inventory, Director
Joyner added that the department would continue to promote and advertise for
Stanly County residents to get vaccinated.
Mrs.
McKeon then updated the board on open access scheduling in many Health
Department programs which has been in the planning stages since early 2009 and
put into place on 1/4/10. The new
scheduling system has improved the appointment no-show rate to an average of
about 7%, with changes/adjustments continuing to be made as needed.
Board
Members were informed that the Home Health Program was in the process of
preparing for re-accreditation scheduled for later this year. The first required evidence package has been
forwarded and Mr. Joyner stated his intention of supporting staff through the taxing
accreditation process, with updates presented to the board as appropriate.
The
director informed the board that in an effort to increase breastfeeding among
women enrolled in WIC Programs in North Carolina, the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) has made funding available to build and sustain
breastfeeding peer counselor programs through local WIC agencies. Mr. Joyner explained that the Health
Department has accepted an allocation of funds which will be used to support a
part-time Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, who will work approximately 20 hours
weekly, beginning in April, 2010.
The
board was made aware of a County Health Rankings Report (MATCH - Mobilizing
Action Toward Community Health) that would be published in February. This report is being prepared and released by
the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation for the
purpose of stimulating efforts to improve various community health measures. The
director explained that all counties would be ranked within each state
according to certain community health indicators and the report will be shared
with the board at a future meeting.
Director
Joyner shared information from the Partners in Health group which included a
“Golden Shoe” project being organized by the Healthy Weighs Committee. The
project includes the random placement of “gold shoes” in the public parks of
the county, and persons finding a “golden shoe” would have an opportunity for prizes
on 3/27/10 at the Locust Spring Festival. The goal is to encourage people to be
physically active and also to use the many parks in Stanly County.
With no further business to discuss, the board adjourned at 8:00 PM.