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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/03/1959 r 271 REGULAR HONTHLY Hi<i!::rrNG BOA.1ID OF HEALTH HELD IN OFFICE OF BOAP~ JUNE 3, 1959 . Present: Mr. E. S. Capps, Mayor; Dr. J. C. Knox, Dr. James H. Smith, Dr. H. Bryant Hare, Jr. and Mr. H. H. Roland. In the absence of the Chairman, due to illness, the meeting wa5 presided over by Hr. Roland. On motion by Dr. Knox, seconded by Dr. Smith, the minutes of the last meeting \{ere approvea.l"lithout reading; copies having been sent to the Board members. The Health Director asked the Board for permission to use unexpended budget itmns, except salary and travel, to take care of over-expended budget items. On motion by Dr. Knox, seconded by Dr. Hare, this permission ,res granted. Carried. Mr. E. S. Ca,c\)Js, newly elected Hayor of the City of Wilmington, was welcomed to the Board of Health as an Ex officio member of the Board. . A letter from ~he Board of County Commissioners, addressed to Mayor Capps, re- questing the Board of Health to instruct the Health Director to make periodic visits to patients at the County Home and emergency calls at the County jail, ,ISS read to the Board. The Health Director stated that these duties are performed by a County Physician, employed by the County Commissioners, who 'IOrks under the direction of the County Commissioners. He further stated that there has been no Cpunty Physician employed by the County COI:1missioners since the enactment of the revised laws of North Carolina Public Health, Sec. 130-23, effective 195$, per- mitting them to employ a County PhYSician. He also stated that the Health Director is responsible to the Board of Health and that it would be eA'tremely difficult to take instructions from two sources. ~. . The Health Director stated that undoubtedly a lot of important cases of tuberculosis are being missed by not examining the prisoners from the jail. He stated that it has been previously broueht to the Board's attention that chest x-rays should be secured on this high tubercular incidence group and that court officials had been requested to aid in this matter. Up to this time such arrangements have failed to materialize. Dr. Smith asked if something could not be worked out wuereby these people could be x-rayed; if some arrangement could be made with the Sheriff's Department to have these prisoners brouGht to the health department. Dr. Knox stated that tuberculosis and syphillis are the responsibility of the health deparc,ment due to the fact that they are infectious diseases; that it is the health department I s problem to find and treat conununicable diseases, and all we can do is to ask for the cooperation of the County Conunissioners in arranging to get the prisoners e:xamined. The Health Director stated that we have two men, paid by the U. S. Public Health Service, who go to jail and get blood tests on the male prisoners, but the females are not examined by reason of the fact that the jail does not afford adequate facilities for the examination of female prisoners. . Mayor Capps stated that he had observed through the press and had heard that there had been considerable misunderstanding of the responsibilities of the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Health, and he thought it would be well for the Board of Health, the County Commissioners, and the City Council to meet in joint sessi~ lor a discussion and clarification of the responsibilities of the various groups. .. - On motion by Mayor Capps, seconded by Dr. Knox, a motion \<as made that a joint meeting of the County Commissioners, the City Council and the Board of Health be "'" 272 held, prior to the July meeting of the Board of He.:llth, in an effort to reach an understanding between the thrce Boards; that the Hpalth Director and the Chairman of the County Commissioners confer and that the Chairman of the County Commissioners call this meeting at an acceptable date. Carried. ~ .-t The budget for the fiscal year 1959-1960 WdS discuosed. Tpe Health Director advised the Board that Dr. Norton, State Hea,lth Officer, had i.'1formed him that the normal range salary scale ,muld be mandatory. It ><as brought to the attention of the Board that the County Auditor, Nr. T. D. Love, had talked vlith Nr. Caldwell, Herit System Supervisor, who had stated that the normal ratnge scale \'j11S not man- datory. Dr. Smith suggested that the Health Director, }lr. Love and Chairman Holton get together on this matter. The Health Director stated that if this health depart- ment tries to continue on the minimum salary scale, "e would not be able to hold our personnel because of the low salaries. The statement ,IaS ma~e by Dr. Knox that so long as we accept State and F'ederal funds we vall have to operate under the Herit System. Dr. Hare suggested that the Health Director write I-lr. Claude E. Caldwell, J.lerit System Supervisor, and ask for a statement as to whether the normal range salary scale is mandatory for New Hanover County for the fiscal year 1959-1960. He also suggested that the Health Director contact ~lr. Love, COl.\l1ty Auditor, and get from him such information as he had on the above matter. Dr. Hare made inquiry as to whether the County Corrmssioners ,lere familiar vlith the Charter establishing the Board of Health and the responsibilities assigned M to it by the Charter. 'J On motion by Dr. Knox, the meeting adjourned. 1959 4;dr- Clerk ( J