09_05_2018 BOH Meeting Minutes1587
Linda C. Robbins, Vice-Chair, New Hanover County Board of Health, called the regular business
meeting of the Board of Health (BOH) to order on September 5, 2018 at 8:02 a.m. in the Carl Durham
Auditorium of the New Hanover County Health Department.
Members Present:
Linda C. Robbins, Vice-Chair
James Barker, Public Member
Melody Speck Evans, DVM
Amy McLane, PE
Mark W. Morgan, MD
Kim Thrasher Horne, PharmD
Stephanie D. Smith, PhD, RN
LeShonda Wallace, PHD, FNP-BC
Edward Weaver, Jr., OD
Rob Zapple, County Commissioner
Members Absent:
Robert J. Schiffel, DDS, Chair
Others Present:
Phillip Tarte, Health Director
David Howard, Deputy Health Director
Bunny McClure, Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Carla Turner, Personal Health Services Manager
Nikki Todd, Public Health Nurse Supervisor
Larry Grimsley, Public Health Nurse, Clinic Services
Ricky Gibbs, Environmental Health Supervisor
Regina James-Boston, Administrative Manager
Heather Jernigan, Recording Secretary
Approval of Agenda:
Commissioner Zapple moved to approve the agenda as presented. Amy McLane seconded the
motion. Upon vote, the motion was passed unanimously.
Approval of Minutes: 8/1/18
Stephanie Smith moved to approve the minutes from the August 1, 2018 meeting, as presented.
Melody Evans seconded the motion. Upon vote, the motion was passed unanimously.
Public Comments: None
Recognitions and Service Awards
Years of Service:
5 Years:
Wendy Crandall, Public Health Nurse, School Health, Personal Health Services
Barbara Tanner, Public Health Nurse, School Health, Personal Health Services
10 Years:
Angela Gray, Community Health, Personal Health Services
Julie Kornegay, Public Health Nurse, Personal Health Services
Ashley Vernon, Public Health Nurse, Clinic Services, Personal Health Services
20 Years:
Keith Studt, Vector Control, Environmental Health
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New Hires
Jessica Fink, Administrative Technician, Support Services - Customer Care.
Gretchen Zuncich, Administrative Technician, Support Services - Environmental Health.
Amanda DiCicco, Public Health Nurse, School Health
Katherine Longbottom, Nutritionist, WIC/Nutrition
Allison Coleman, Public Health Nurse, School Health
Customer Service Awards:
Ambassador:
James Parmeter
Consultant:
Samantha Grady
Heather Jernigan
Mr. Tarte welcomed the new employees to the Health Department and congratulated the award
recipients on a job well done.
New Business:
Budget Amendment-Local Bioterrorism Program Budget Increase
David Howard presented the budget amendment increase request for the Local Bioterrorism Program.
The DHSS Division of Public Health, Public Health Preparedness & Response branch has awarded
New Hanover County Public Health $80,000 for emergency preparedness and response efforts for
FY2018-2019. Currently, $28,230 of this award has been budgeted. Public Health requests an
increase to its adopted budget by the balance of the actual award, which is an additional $51,770.
These funds will be used for the development of regional projects to enhance community resilience
and disaster preparedness. Two such potential projects are a CASPER project and a Stop the Bleed
campaign.
CASPER Project
Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is an epidemiologic
technique developed by the CDC designed to produce information about a community. CASPERs can
be used by following a natural disaster to make informed decisions about resources, post disaster
recovery, or to access efforts made. CASPER methodology can also be used to assess public health
perceptions, estimate needs of a community, assist in planning for emergency response, and as part
of the public health accreditation process. The initial CASPER project could focus on the 10-mile
Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) around the Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant and would be done in
collaboration with UNCW.
Stop the Bleed
Stop the Bleed is a campaign promoted by Homeland Security to educate, empower, and equip the
public to be able to provide life-saving bleeding control techniques. This allows immediate (public)
responders to potentially prevent death due to blood loss until medical personnel arrive. The focus is
to provide training and public education public of bleeding control techniques and strategic placement
of supply kits in public spaces (similar to first aid or AED kits). Examples include schools, libraries,
government buildings, places of worship and public spaces.
No county matching funds are required and no new positions are requested.
Following some discussion, Melody Evans moved to approve the Local Bioterrorism Program Budget
Increase as presented. Mark Morgan seconded the motion. Upon vote, the motion passed
unanimously.
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Health Promotion: Safe Kids Van Wrap
Julia Phelps, Health Educator, presented to the board an update and video of the recent Safe Kids
Van Wrap that was completed with the help of the Finance, Vehicle Management, and Health
Promotion departments, and a graphic sponsorship by Jeff Gordon Chevrolet.
Old Business:
Approval/Review of 2018-2019 Board of Health Policies and Procedures
The following Policies and Procedures were discussed for approval:
Employee Contact with Board of Health #BOH/GS-ADM-059
Following an in-depth discussion, a motion was made by Stephanie Smith, seconded by Rob Zapple,
to amend the Policy/Procedure to include the following: “Communications between Board and staff
are welcome. Interaction between Board members and staff fosters greater understanding and
collaboration. To ensure consistent communication, the Health Director shall be notified that the Board
has been contacted by a staff member.” “Board members may request information but should not
direct staff work. These tasks shall be requested of the Health Director.” “In the event of a complaint
or grievance against the Director, an employee may request an informal meeting with Board of Health
members.” “Any board member, other than the chair, receiving a complaint, shall direct either the
complaint or the staff person making such request to the board chair.” And “The board chair can
choose to raise the concerns to the director or to bring them to the Executive Committee for further
discussion.” Upon vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Public Contact with Board of Health #BOH/GS-ADM-043
Following some discussion, a motion was made by Mark Morgan, seconded by Melody Evans, to
amend the Policy/Procedure to read as, “Written requests from the general public to a member of the
New Hanover County Board of Health pertaining to any aspect of program and/or operations of the
NHCHD should be submitted, upon receipt, to the health director for follow up. The agency’s response
to the request should be reported back to the Board of Health within one week following contact with
the public. This policy is intended to keep the health director and Board of Health informed of such
contacts.” Upon vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Reduction in Force #BOH/GS-ADM-044
A motion was made by Kim Thrasher Horne, seconded by Rob Zapple, to approve the policy as
presented. No amendments were made. Upon vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Departmental Focal – General Clinic Update (Attachment I)
Larry Grimsley, PHN, Clinic Services, presented to the Board a PowerPoint presentation on the new
vaccinations that will be available in our clinic. Larry discussed, in-depth, the differences and benefit
of each vaccine. He also stated that the new Flublok® vaccine does not use chicken eggs, is faster
to produce and has greater and longer lasting protection versus the older flu vaccines. Various
community outreach efforts are being planned to better serve our public
Monthly Financial Update (including Grant Status):
There was no presentation of the Revenue and Expenditure Summaries FY2018-2019 for July,
however, detailed reports were provided to the full board, as well as an overview of the current grant
status.
Health Director Report
Mr. Phillip Tarte asked the Board to review email previously sent containing the Science Advisory
Board’s follow-up report of the GenX Study.
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Mr. Tarte assured the Board that he would provide updates of House Bill 711 “Farm Act” and House
Bill 374 “Regulatory Reform Act” as information comes available.
Board of Health Comments
Ms. Melody Evans requested that Mr. Tarte and Commissioner Zapple, as members of the Science
Advisory Board, determine responsibility for the follow-up of GenX. Mr. Tarte commented that the
State Health Director and the director of the Department of Environmental Quality are tasked with
coordinating the effort.
Mr. James Barker added Secretaries are appointed various terms. He referenced his experience in
the chemical manufacturing industry, and the impracticality of having to prove that every chemical is
safe.
Dr. Kim Thrasher-Horne commented that NHC has the highest prevalence rate of children with
asthma. She stated it is a sobering reminder and is something that we need to take very seriously.
She also asked if there was a response from the NHC Board of Education regarding Mental Health
First Aid. No response has been received at this time.
Commissioner Zapple commended Mr. Tarte on his presentation on behalf of the Science Advisory
Board to commissioners from across the state at the NC Commissioners’ Conference in Hickory, NC.
Commissioner Zapple also commented that the county commissioners are working to provide funding
for additional school nurses
Adjournment
Being no further business, Vice Chair, Linda “Candy” Robbins moved the meeting be adjourned at
9:33 a.m.
Linda C. Robbins, Vice-Chair
New Hanover County Board of Health
Phillip Tarte, MHA, Health Director
New Hanover County Health Department