05.01.19 Board of Health Meeting Minutes1608
Dr. Robert Schiffel, Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Health, called the regular business meeting
of the Board of Health (BOH) to order on May 1, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. in the Carl Durham Auditorium of the
New Hanover County Public Health Department.
Members Present:
Melody Speck Evans, DVM
Kim Thrasher Horne, PharmD
Mark W. Morgan, MD
Michael Musselwhite, Public Member
Candy Robbins, Vice-Chair
Robert J. Schiffel, DDS, Chair
Stephanie D. Smith, PhD, RN
Edward Weaver, Jr., OD
Others Present:
Chris Coudriet, County Manager
Lisa Wurtzbacher, Chief Financial Officer
Maria Standfest, Accountant, Health, Fiscal
Phillip Tarte, MHA, Public Health Director
David Howard, Deputy Public Health Director
Katelyn Matney, Public Health Strategist & Health Promotion Supervisor
Carla Turner, Personal Health Services Manager
Regina James-Boston, Administrative Manager
Heather Jernigan, Recording Secretary
Approval of Agenda: Dr. Melody Speck Evans moved that the agenda be accepted as presented.
Stephanie Smith seconded. Upon vote, the agenda was approved as submitted.
Approval of Minutes: Mark Morgan moved that the minutes from the March 6, 2019 meeting be approved
as amended and submitted. Kim Thrasher-Horn seconded. Upon vote, the minutes were approved as
submitted.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Ed Weaver moved to approve the consent agenda. Melody Evans seconded. The Board approved the
ratification of application and, if awarded, the acceptance of $400 in grant funding from the Safe Kids North
Carolina/NC Coalition network and the associated budget amendment.
Public Comments: None
Recognitions:
New Hire:
Tracey Wooten, Public Health Nurse, Clinic Services, Personal Health Services
Years of Service
5 Years:
Sharon Green, Community Health, Personal Health Services.
Janet Perry, PHN - Community Health
Andrea Thomas, Environmental Health Specialist
10 Years:
Darlene Hobson, PHN - Community Health
April MacAlpine, Nutritionist - WIC/Nutrition
1609
Customer Service Awards:
Ambassador: Trecinda Pittman, PHN - Clinic Services
Ambassador & Consultant: Anne Wrenn, Nutrition Services Supervisor
Consultant: Linda Gould, Nutritionist, WIC/Nutrition
Accountability & Professionalism:
Pamela Cooke, Social Worker - PCM
Neisha Holley, Social Worker - PCM
Susan Ramsey, PHN - PCM, Personal Health Services
Professionalism, Accountability, & Innovation
Lisa Gans, PHN – Community Health
Marilyn Howe – Community Health
Great Supervision Certificates
Trena Ballard, Administrative Supervisor, Customer Care
Bonita Wright, Administrative Supervisor, Support Services
New Business:
Legislative update - Attachment I
Phillip Tarte presented the legislative update to the Board. Following much discussion, a motion was made
by Melody Evans, seconded by Stephanie Smith, to draft a letter of support for the following House Bills:
HB 579 - Local Communicable Disease Programs/Funds - An act appropriating funds to the Department
of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, to expand local Communicable Disease
surveillance, detection, control, and prevention infrastructure and activities. Support
HB 601 - School-Based Mental Health - An act to require public school units to develop and implement a
School-based Mental Health Plan that includes a mental health training program and suicide risk referral
protocol. - Support
HB 524 - Additional Funds for School Nurses - Support
HB 725 - Strengthen Youth Tobacco Prevention/Funds (E-cigs funding) - An act establishing a
Tobacco Use Prevention Fund in the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health,
Chronic Disease and Injury Section, that is dedicated to Preventing Youth E-cigarette Nicotine Dependence
(“The End Act”). Support
The following bills are to be opposed:
HB 196 - Parental Consent for Sex Education - An act to require parental consent for a student’s
participation in Reproductive Health and Safety Education. This would make sex education opt -in, which
could potentially decrease participation. Oppose
HB 103 - Small Dairy Sustainability Act - An act to promote small dairy sustainability by allowing the
retail sale of raw milk for human consumption. Also known as the Raw Milk Bill. Oppose
HB 579-Communicable Disease; HB 601-Mental Health; HB 524-School Nurse Provision; HB 725-e cigs
funding. As well as expressing opposition for the HB 103-Raw Milk and HB196–Requiring parental consent
for sexual education.
Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Old Business:
Health and Human Services Consolidation
Dr. Schiffel remarked that there has been no movement or discussion regarding HHS Board creation.
A list of nominees will be submitted to the County Commissioners by 5/20/19. Dr. Stephanie Smith
volunteered to be on the Nominating Committee and thanked Phillip for helping the Board move forward
1610
but feels both Boards (DSS and BOH) have not been engaged; and is concerned the new board is at a
disadvantage with not having a directive. Dr. Schiffel responded that he feels the Board can get caught
up pretty quickly as long as the new board has most of the same members.
Dr. Mark Morgan asked if an organizational paradigm has been made. Mr. Coudriet stated that the DSS
and Health Directors will report directly to the County Assistant Mgr./Director of HHS, and that the County
Manager will fill this role until a HHS Director has been hired. Mr. Coudriet also stated that all current BOH
members will be eligible to serve on the new HHS board, with a new term.
Mr. Coudriet commented that once the HHS Board is formally appointed by the commission, the HHS Board
will work together to determine the strategic direction of a consolidated agency.
Comments:
Dr. Mark Morgan and Dr. Stephanie Smith, both inquired about the current status of the measles outbreak
in our area, and if there are any public health announcements or plans for information distribution. Following
some discussion, it was the consensus of the board that information be provided to the public.
Ms. Kim Thrasher-Horne inquired about the current status of bimodal flu in NC. Carla Turner stated that
has not been seen in our state and cases of flu are trending down.
Dr. Ed Weaver asked Mr. Tarte if the NC Science Advisory Board had anything new to report. Mr. Tarte
said the Board is currently still in conversations about GenX and coal ash, however, nothing new is being
discussed. He also stated that the Local SAB is currently still doing blood urine sample studies. More
information to follow.
Dr. Schiffel commended the Board of Health on its long association with New Hanover County.
Adjournment
Being no further business Chair, Robert Schiffel moved the meeting be adjourned at 8:52 a.m.
ATTACHMENT I