09/02/1959
RffiULAR MONTHLY MEETING BOARD OF HEALTH
HEW IN OFFICE OF BOARD
SEPT~ffiER 2, 1959
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Present: Mr. James E. Holton, Jr., Chairman; Dr. J. C. Knox, Dr. Robert B. Hare, Jr.,
and Dr. James H. Smith.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman.
Dr. Knox made the motion, seconded by Dr. Smith, that the minutes of the last meeting
be approved without readingj copiies having been sent to the Board members. Carried.
A proposed Amendment to Section 43 of the Plumbing Code was recommended to the Board
by Mr. Lassiter, Sanitary Engineer, due to the fact that the current FHA specifications
call for considerable increase in septic tank capacity. Following a discussion of the
Amendment as it relates to the installation of septic tanks, motion was made by Dr.
Knox, that we adopt the following Amendment,as recommended by Mr. Lassiter, and that it
be in force and effect from this day, September 2, 1959. Motion was seconded by Dr. Hare
and carried;
AMENDMENT: "Where a septic tank for a residence is installed to meet the current FHA
specifications, a separate grease trap will not be required."
A report from the Committee appointed at the last Board of Health meeting to meet with
the Health Director relative to budget matters, county physician and Health Director
for Brunswick County, was read to the Board. (Tpis committee was composed of Dr. J. C.
Wessell, Board Member Emeritusj Dr. J. C. Knox and Dr. R. B. Hare, Jr.).(See attached
report). Dr. Knox stated that if some satisfactory arrangement could be made he would
like to see Dr. Davis continue as Health Director for Brunswick County, but was not in
favor of New Hanover County Health Department being labeled as a part time department.
... .
The following letter from Dr. J. W. R. Norton, State Health Officer, was read to the
Board: Letter dated August 14, 1959; addressed to Y;r. James E. Holton, Jr., Chairman,
Consolidated Board of Health and Board of County Commissioners, New Hanover County,
Wilmington, North C<lrolina;
Dear Mr. Holton:
"I have just read a newspaper article in the News and Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina,
copied from your local newspaper in Wilmington, North Carolina, in which it is stated
that your full time health director, Dr. C. B. Davis, has been ordered to give up his
duties as Brunswick County part-time Healtn Director, effective September 1, 1959; and,
to compensate Dr. Davis for his loss of compensation frolJl Brunswick County, that his
present salary of $9120 be increased to $11520.
"We want to express our thanks to you and the board for sharing his services with Bruns-
,lick County as stated in a letter dated February 3, 1955 showing that the.Consolidated
Board of Health authorized Dr. Davis to act as part_time health director of Brunswick
County.
"We have at no time considered Dr. Davis' status as any other than full time director
of New Hanover County and later as full time director of both New Hanover and Brunsw1ick
Counties. The latter has been particularly beneficial to Brunswick County due to their
inability to pay for any other type service.
"
"Since Dr. Higgins' letters of May 18, 1959 and May 21, 1959 to you, a new policy has
been sent out by the Merit System dated June 29, 1959, a copy of which is attached.
Paragraph 2 is the one you would be most interested in. This new policy supersedes Dr.
Higgins' correspondence.
"Il it is possible to reconsider the action of your board and permit the director to
continue giving the same high type of medical Public Health director, I am sure
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Brunswick County will benefit from such official action. We at the State
Board of H~lth would appreciate it and feel very grateful to you for such
consideration.
Very truly yours,
~
CC: Dr. Higgins,Mrs. Henderson
Mr. Caldwell
Signed: J. W. R. NORTON, M. D.
State Health Director"
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After a general discussion of the CommiLtee's report, Chairman Holton asked for
the approval or rejection of the report. Motion was made by Dr. "mith that the
report of the Committee be accepted for information and guidance in the depart-
ment. Mption was seconded by Dr. Knox and carried.
Dr. Knox suggested that Dr. Norton be contacted regarding the distribution of the
salary for the Health Dir..ctor, if he is to continue as Health Director for the
two counties.
It was agreed that a committee composed of Mayor Capps I Dr. Knox and Chairman Holton
be appointed to worl<: with Dr. Davis and Mr. Swain, Chairman of the Brunswick County
Board of Health, relative to working out a solution of this problem that would be
satisfactory to all concerned and report back at the next meeting of the Board of
Health.
A motion ..as made by Dr. Smith that Dr. Davis continue to a,et as Health Director
for Brunswick County until the Committee appointed comes back with a solution.
Motion seconded by Dr. Knox and carried.
The Secretary was instructed to write the Brunswick County Board of Health, with
a copy of the letter to Dr. Norton, advising them of the action taken by the ~
Consolidated Board of Health in session a~ of September 2, 1959.
Chairman Holton asked the Health Director to meet ~th the Board of County Com-
missioners in their meeting on :September 8, 1959, relative to the budget of the
Health Department for the fiscal year 1959-1960.
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The Board was informed that Dr. Pugh, U. S. Public Health Service physician as-
signed to the Venereal Disease program in the health department, had been transferred
and that no replacement ..as available; also that Dr. Foard, Epidemiologist, had ad-
visBd the Health Director that the State Board of Health would supply $1000.00 if the
health department would furnish $500.00 for the salary of a local physician on a V. D.
clinical basis. ($15.00 per hour for 2 hour clinic; 1 clinic per week).
Chairman Holton referred to the inventory on the surplus property owned by the Insect
& Rodent Control. He asked if all the equipment is necessary. The Health Director
advised that there was a possibility that the health department could not purchase
additional surplus property. He suggested that Chairman Holton go with him to the
storage wharehouse and discuss the use of this equipment there.
Hotion to adjourn was made by Dr. Smith, secollded by Dr. Knox.
APPBOVED (jei-l1~ '1
1959
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