05/07/1997
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Mr. Keith Elmore, Chairman, called the regular business meeting of the New Hanover
County Board of Health (NHCBH) to order at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7,1997, in the
Carl Thomas Durham Auditorium, New Hanover County Health Department, Wilmington,
North Carolina.
Members Present:
W. Keith Elmore, RPh, Chairman
Mary King Dean, Vice-Chairman
Mary Lou Alford, RN
Thomas V. Clancy, MD
Michael E. Goins, OD
Dennis L. Jackson, DVM
William O'Kelly Jewell, DDS
Anne Braswell Rowe
William T. Steuer, PE, RLS
Estelle G. Whitted, RN
Members Absent:
Robert G. Greer
Others Present:
Lynda F. Smith, Acting Health Director
Frances F. De Vane, Recording Secretary
Invocation:
Mr. William Steuer gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Elmore called for corrections to the minutes of April 2, 1997. The Board of Health
approved the minutes.
Recognitions:
Staff Recognitions
Ms. Smith recognized the following health department employees:
Retirement
Mrs. Julia P. Lueck, Clerical Specialist, Communicable Disease
New Employee
Regina James, Clerical Specialist, Communicable Disease
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On behalf of the New Hanover County Board of Health, Ms. Smith presented a retirement
plaque to Mrs. Julia P. Lueck, Clerical Specialist, Communicable Disease, for her 19 years
of service at the New Hanover County Health Department. She introduced and welcomed
Ms. James to the health department.
Department Focal:
Teens Helping Teens - Commit To Quit
Mr. Fred Michael, Health Educator, Health Promotions, presented the department focal on
Teens Helping Teens - Commit To Quit. Project ASSIST (American Stop Smoking
Intervention Study) - Commit To Quit Campaign (a smoking cessation project) was
sponsored by the New Hanover/Brunswick Coalition. It was a joint effort focusing on
teens and adults who want to quit smoking. Mr. Michael reported 351 adults participated
in the Commit to Quit Campaign and 123 quit smoking. Six high school students quit
smoking due to their participation in the Teens Helping Teens - Commit To Quit effort.
Five high school students listed below who participated in the Commit To Quit effort for
teens based in the schools and who supported the Board of Health Resolution: Stop
Tobacco Sales to Minors were present and participated in the department focal:
Jennifer Henderson, New Hanover High School
Stewart Henderson, New Hanover High School
Cathy Marts, Hoggard High School
Kelly Moosman, New Hanover High School
Chesley Stetten, Hoggard High School
Mr. Elmore thanked Mr. Michael and the high school students for their presentation to the
Board of Health.
Committee Reports:
Budget
Mrs. Mary Dean, Chairman, Budget Committee, summarized the NHCHD FY98 County
Manager's Recommended Budget. Total Recommended Budget is $7,309,463 and there
was a decrease of $321,802 from the Requested Budget amount. Mrs. Dean stated no
new positions and no computers or computer related equipment are included in the
Recommended Budget. All other capital items totaling $134,000 are included in the
Recommended Budget.
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Ms. Smith, Acting Health Director, informed the Board that the recommended salary figure
from Human Resources includes a 2% market adjustment and 2% for merit increases. I
She advised the Board that if the Partnership for Children Grant is approved, those
positions funded through the Partnership grant will be added to the FY98 Budget.
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Mrs. Dean stated she wants the Board of Health to continue to be involved in the health
department budget process as it has been in the years of 1996-97. She plans to present
a resolution to the Executive Committee of the Board to continue the existing budget
process. Mrs. Rowe concurred that the current budget process is beneficial. Mr. Elmore
expressed he agrees the budget process is good, but not with the idea to restrict future
New Hanover County Boards of Health. Mrs. Dean commended Dr. Jackson for initiating
the present budget process in 1996 and stated she thinks it has been most beneficial.
Environmental Health
Dr. Jackson, Chairman, Environmental Health Committee, reported the Environmental
Health Committee met at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 1997. The committee reviewed
maps with locations of water samples collected from Hanby and Wilmington Beaches and
concluded there are indications of improved water sampling in some areas and a decline
in other specific areas.
Dr. Jackson advised the Board, Carolina Beach Sewer Treatment Plant will have the
capacity in September 1997 to accommodate Hanby and Wilmington Beaches. He stated
the community water supply system is not a health problem as indicated by water analyses;
however, a sewage problem is evident. Plans to pursue the connection to sewer for Hanby
and Wilmington Beaches will be presented to the Executive Committee, Board of Health,
and the County Commissioners. Mr. Bruce Shell, New Hanover County Finance Director,
is researching the estimated cost.
Executive Committee
Mr. Elmore, Chairman, Executive Committee, reported the Executive Committee met at
6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 28. Items to be discussed are under new business.
Unfinished Business:
Report on Educational Activities on Animal Rabies Issues Animal Control Services
and Health Promotions
Mr. Ron Currie, Animal Control Services Director, stated Animal Control Services (ACS)
takes a proactive stance in the fight against rabies. Rabies control and educational
activities include Inner City and County Rabies Clinics, health classes on rabies in school
system, puppet shows to school groups, health fairs, speaking engagements, media
coverage, and educational materials. Proposed recommended educational programs
include extended educational presentations, data, media coverage, utilization of
volunteers, and an educational project for UNCW students.
Mr. Currie announced the Rabies Subcommittee is addressing rabies issues. Members
of the committee are Ms. Denise Hougton, Health Promotions Director; Donna Booth-
Neal, Chairman, Animal Control Services Advisory Committee; Ron Currie, ACS Director;
Mrs. Beth Jones, Communicable Disease Director; and Mrs. Jean McNeil, ACS Field
Supervisor.
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Mrs. Beth Jones presented a Community Health Improvement Program (CHIP) - New
Hanover Regional Medical Center's - Rabies Prevention Project Grant proposal which was I
sent to the County Commissioners for approval. The grant request for $22,688 is to
develop and deliver rabies prevention education among population, especially children,
and others at high risk for coming in contact with potentially rabid animals. The
community-wide education project to alert the community to the impending threat of
rabies and to reduce risk of human rabies includes a part-time Rabies Prevention Health
Educator position. If the grant is approved, a request will come back to the Board of Health
to request approval for the position.
Mr. Elmore thanked the members of the Rabies Subcommittee for their work on this
initiative.
New Business:
New Hanover County Board of Health Smoking Regulation
Due to the Court of Appeals ruling that Halifax County Board of Health had exceeded its
rule making authority relating to Smoking County Rules for Halifax County, Mr. Elmore
informed the Board, the Executive Committee had requested that Mr. Andrew Olsen,
Assistant County Attorney, provide information regarding the potential personal liability of
each Board of Health member of enforcing the 1995 New Hanover County Board of Health I
Smoking Control Regulation (SCR). He stated according to Mr. Olsen research has
indicated no reported case where a Board of Health member from North Carolina has been
sued personally.
Mr. Elmore recommended from the Executive Committee for the existing 1995 New
Hanover County Board of Health SCR be held in abeyance and for the New Hanover
County Board of Health to enforce the 1990 New Hanover County Smoking Pollution
Control Ordinance. He advised the New Hanover County Commissioners approved the
1990 Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance and that the Board of Health passed and
enforced the 1995 SCR (passed October 1993 - effective January 1995). He stated the
Clean Air Bill states that after October 1993 a Board of Health does not have the authority
to pass a more restrictive regulation than they have in place.
Mr. Elmore advised direction is needed for health department staff to know what to
enforce. He also stated there is a lot of opinion that the Court of Appeals decision was
a bad ruling.
Mr. Steuer inquired if there is a statewide concerted effort to appeal this legislation
restricting Board of Health. Mr. Elmore informed Mr. Steuer that the Board of Health
resolution (passed on April 2, 1997) requesting the North Carolina General Assembly to
amend portions of Chapter 143, Article 64: Smoking In Public Places is a statewide
initiative. Ms. Smith stated that the North Carolina Local Health Directors Association and I
the Association for North Carolina Boards of Health are addressing and supporting this
effort.
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Dr. Jackson expressed the Board of Health has two options regarding the smoking
regulation. One is to challenge the Court of Appeals decision and the other option is to try
to get legislation changed to allow Boards of Health to pass regulations regarding smoking
control.
MOTION: Mr. Elmore moved from the Executive Committ~e that due to the recent Court
of Appeals decision regarding a Local Board of Health's Smoking Regulation, the existing
New Hanover County Board of Health Smoking Control Regulation of 1995 will be held in
abeyance until further development and the New Hanover County Board will enforce the
1990 New Hanover County Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance. Upon vote, the
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Recommended Budget
Mr. Elmore recommended from the Executive Committee for the Board of Health to
approve the Fiscal Year 1997-98 County Manager's Recommended Budget.
MOTION: Mr. Elmore moved from the Executive Committee for the New Hanover County
Board of Health to approve the Fiscal Year 1997-98 County Manager's Recommended
Budget. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Appointment of Rabies Task Force
Mr. Elmore informed the Board that Drs. Highsmith and Needham, local veterinarians,
attended the Executive Committee Meeting on April 29, 1997, and expressed their
concerns regarding ACS adoption policies and procedures and the euthanization of animal
without a history of rabies vaccination.
Mr. Elmore recommended from the Executive Committee for the Board of Health to appoint
a Rabies Task Force to study the policies for adopting animals from ACS and
euthanization of all animals that lack a history of current rabies vaccination.
The following were recommended for appointment to the Animal Control Services Rabies
Task Force:
Dr. David Highsmith, Local Veterinarian
Ms. Jean McNeil, Animal Control Services Employee
Ms. Joyce Bradley, Humane Society Delegate to ACS Advisory Committee
Ms. Clara Lamb, Public Citizen
Dennis Jackson, DVM, Board of Health Member
MOTION: Mr. Elmore moved from the Executive Committee for the Board of Health to
approve the appointment of the Rabies Task Force to study the policies for adopting
animals from Animal Control Services and euthanization of all animals that lack a history
of current rabies vaccination. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Dr. Jackson reported that the Rabies Task Force met on Friday, May 3, and plans to meet
on Thursday, May 8, 1997. A report will be presented at the next Executive Committee
meeting. He stated these ACS issues are to be addressed and finalized in one month.
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Comments:
Board Members:
Dr. Goins gave a report on an incident involving a rabid racoon found on Randall Parkway.
He suggested perhaps placing signs on the scene involving a rabid animal to inform the
public of the rabies investigation and the immediate danger in the area.
Dr. Clancy requested a note of appreciation be sent to the high school students
participating this morning in the Teens Helping Teens - Commit To Quit Department
Focal. He commented the elimination of the current Board of Health Smoking Control
Regulation was a setback initiated by one small county. Dr. Clancy expressed that he is
pleased to learn the Mega Bar Regulation will not be implemented and to learn the
County Commissioners are pursing watercraft regulations. He requested the Board of
Health endorse the personal watercraft regulations.
Mr. Elmore referred the watercraft regulations to the Health Promotions Committee for I
further study.
Mrs. Dean stated this morning's department focal is an example of teens helping their
peers and it would be great to also address teen pregnancy. She thanked Dr. Jackson for
his work with the Environmental Health Committee.
Acting Health Director:
Susan O'Brien. Laboratory Director. Elected President-Elect of South Health
Association
Ms. Smith announced that Mrs. O'Brien, Laboratory Director, was elected President-Elect
of the Southern Health Association for a one-year- term at their annual meeting in
Louisville, Kentucky.
Thank You Notes to NHCBH for Staff Luncheon
Ms. Smith passed around notes of appreciation from staff to the Board of Health for
hosting a Staff Luncheon held on April 18 in honor of the health department staff.
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Actions By County Commissioners
Ms. Smith advised the Board the New Hanover County Commissioners approved the
following health department issues on April 21, 1997:
Animal Control Services Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations
Three Partnership For Children Smart Start Grant Applications
Animal Control Services Trust Fund Revision
National Association of Local Boards of Health Annual Conference
Ms. Smith invited Board of Health members to attend the Fifth Annual Conference of the
National Association of Local Boards of Health to be held on June 25-28 in Braintree,
Massachusetts.
Revised Board of Health List
Ms. Smith distributed a revised Board of Health list.
Bouquet of Flowers Received by Family Planning Staff
Ms. Smith reported the NHCHD Family Planning staff received a bouquet of flowers from
a patient thanking the staff for their care and years of service since 1983.
House Bill 213: Control of County Boards/Human Services Sponsored by
Representative Nichols
Ms. Smith referred the Board to a letter from Mr. Elmore on behalf of the Board of Health
to New Hanover County Legislators expressing the Board's opposition to House Bill 213:
Control of County Boards/Human Services sponsc;>red by Representative Nichols.
Medical Society Support of Board of Health Resolution Requesting the North
Carolina General Assembly to Amend Portions of Chapter 143. Article 64: Smoking
in Public Places
Ms. Smith announced on April 16, 1997, the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society
voted to support the Board of Health Resolution requesting the 1997 North Carolina
General Assembly to amend portions of Chapter 143, Article 64: Smoking in Public
Places and to advise New Hanover County legislators of their action. She explained the
amendment is to provide that local boards of health may adopt Smoking Control Rules for
their respective counties.
Ms. Smith expressed appreciation to Dr. Clancy for initiating the action from the New
Hanover - Pender Medical Society to support the New Hanover County Board of Health
Resolution on Smoking in Public Places.
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Other Business:
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the regular business meeting of the Board of Health was
adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
w. eÆ)~irman
New Hanover County Board of Health
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Lynda F. Smith, Acting Health Director
New Hanover County Health Department
Approved:
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