07/02/1997
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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, July 2, 1997, in the Carl
Thomas Durham Auditorium, New Hanover County Health Department, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Members Present:
W. Keith Elmore, RPh, Chairman
Mary King Deån, Vice-Chairman
Mary Lou Alford, RN
Thomas V. Clancy, MD
Michael E. Goins, OD
Wilson O'Kelly Jewell, DDS
Dennis L. Jackson, DVM
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: Dr. Wilson O'Kelly Jewell gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Elmore called for corrections to the minutes of June 4, 1997. The Board of Health corrected
and approved the minutes.
Recognitions:
Staff Recopitions
Ms. Smith recognized the following health department employees:
Five (5) Year Service Awards
Deborah D. Maxwell, Social Worker II - Child Health
Francine Moore, Licensed Practical Nurse II - Women's Health
Ten (10) Year Service Awards
Mitzi W. Chappell, Medical Laboratory Technician - Laboratory
Susan M. Sanderford, Social Worker II - Child Health
Super Staffer Award July 1996 - December 1996
Hazel Hewitt, Clerical Assistant, Receptionist/Switchboard - Administration
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On behalf of the New Hanover County Board of Health, Mr. Elmore congratulated the
recipients of the Service Awards and Ms. Hazel Hewitt, Super Staff Award recipient for July
1996 - December 1996. Mrs. Whitted commended Ms. Hewitt for her contributions to the
health department and to her church.
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Department Focal:
Public Education - Mosquito Control
Mr. Ken Sholar, Vector Control Manager, Environmental Health, and Mr. Jeff Brown, Vector
Control Technician, Environmental Health, presented the department focal Public Education -
Mosquito Control.
Mr. Sholar gave a report on the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) brought to the United
States during the 1980's and now found in North Carolina and most eastern states of the United
States. He explained the Mosquito control methods employed in New Hanover County and
emphasized one of the most efficient ways to control the Asian tiger mosquito is to dispose of
containers holding water.
Mr. Brown summarized Public Education on Mosquito Control and Mosquito Biology in the
New Hanover County School System. Brochures and educational sessions are given to
kindergarten - third graders, mosquito biology is a part of the science curriculum for 5th-8th
grades, and brochures on mosquitoes are distributed at high school health fairs.
Mr. Elmore thanked Mr. Sholar and Mr. Brown for their presentations and visual examples of
Public Education - Mosquito Control.
Committee Reports:
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Executive Committee
Mr. Elmore, Chairman, Executive Committee, reported the Executive Committee met at 6:00
p.m. on Tuesday, June 24. Items to be discussed are under new business.
Unfinished Business:
Budget
Ms. Smith informed the Board the New Hanover County FY 1997-98 Budget was adopted by
the New Hanover County Commissioners at their meeting on Monday, June 16, 1997. She
stated approved Capital Outlay items in the health department budget include $80,000 for
installation of a ramp at the front of the Health Department building and for purchases of two
trucks for Animal Control Services.
Ms. Smith explained approved modifications to county fiscal budget are:
1. The 2% merit and 2% market adjustment were changed to a 3% merit in the salary line
item. There will be no market adjustment.
2.
The salary lag on a county-wide basis increased by $54,373.
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Mr. Elmore commented the Budget Resolution submitted by Mrs. Dean and approved by the
Board of Health in June 1997 states the full Board's involvement and support in the health
department budget process.
Letter of Approval of Animal Control Services (ACS) Adoption Policies and Procedures
Submitted by Rabies Task Force
Mr. Elmore presented a letter he received from Dr. David W. Highsmith on behalf of the
Wilmington Animal Emergency Clinic Shareholders endorsing the ACS Adoption Policies and
Procedures recommended by Rabies Task Force and adopted by the Board of Health on June 4,
1997, contingent upon a letter from local veterinarians stating their support of the new
proposals. (Attachment #1 is attached and is incorporated is made a part of these minutes.)
New Business:
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation Grant Application - Food Services Education
Mr. Elmore recommended from the Executive Committee for the Board to approve a Cape Fear
Memorial Foundation (CFMF) Food Services Education Grant Application ($25,696) to focus
on increasing the education of food service handlers. The grant is to be funded by the Cape Fear
Memorial Foundation and requires no county funds.
Mrs. Dianne Harvell, Environmental Health Director, reported the objective of the CFMF Food
Services Grant Application is to provide greater access to food safety education in the
community, is to provide to food service employees/employers a better knowledge of food
protection principles and safer handling practices, and is to assist in the prevention of food
contamination and pathogen growth. She explained Serving Safe Food certification course
textbooks and examinations will be purchased from the Educational Foundation of the National
Restaurant Association. Implementation of the Food Services Education courses should afford
better communication and rapport between food service establishments and the health
department and should foster reduced costs and risks of illness from improper foodhandling.
Mrs. Rowe inquired how frequently food services educational training sessions are to be held
and Mrs. Harvell advised Mrs. Rowe twice a year. Mrs. Harvell stated September is National
Food Service Education Month focusing on Serving Safe Food for daycare and institutional
food service workers.
MOTION: Mr. Elmore, Chairman, Executive Committee, moved from the Executive
Committee for the Board of Health to approve and to submit to th.e New Hanover County
Board of Commissioners the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation Food Services Education Grant
Application for $25,696, and for the Board of Health to instruct the Environmental Health Staff
to research regulations which other counties have regarding the training of foodhandling
employees, to get opinions on how these are working, and to explore the possibility of
adapting one of these to New Hanover County for passage of such regulation, and to submit this
to the Environmental Health Committee in the near future. Upon vote, the MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
I Comments:
58
Board Members:
Dr. Jewell expressed his appreciation to the Board for the flowers received at the birth of his
daughter, Kathryn Lyerly Jewell, on June 5, 1997.
Mr. Elmore requested Executive Committee members attend a meeting of the Executive
Committee immediately following this Board of Health meeting.
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Acting Health Director:
Letter to New Hanover County Commissioners - Watercrafi Safety Ordinance
Ms. Smith referred the Board to a letter to the New Hanover Commissioners from Mr. Elmore
on behalf of the Board of Health thanking the County Commissioners for passing the Watercraft
Safety Ordinance.
Letter to Bill Rohn. DVM
Ms. Smith presented a letter of appreciation she had written to Dr. Bill Rohn. She explained
Dr. Rohn, a local veterinarian, is a volunteer at New Hanover County Animal Control Services
Shelter. He completes physicals on animals, advises the Animals Control Services Shelter staff
on caring for animals, and has adopted a dog from the shelter. He does this on Thursdays his
day off from his practice. She stated the letter thanked Dr. Rohn on behalf of the Board of
Health for giving of his time and efforts as a volunteer.
Association of North Carolina Boards of Health - Leadership Institute í~cademv at the I
Beach"
Ms. Smith informed Board members of the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health -
Leadership Institute, "Academy at the Beach" is to be held on October 1 0 - 11, 1997, at the
Blockade Runner Hotel on Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. More information regarding
registration will be furnished to the Board members.
Rate Your Plate
Ms. Smith distributed nutritional brochures entitled Rate Your Plate to the Board.
Distribution of Newsletters
Ms. Smith distributed the Health Director's Monthly Report, the NCPHA Health Bulletin, two
Epidemiology Newsletters, and a news article entitled "A Star is . .. Kenneled" to the Board.
She explained the news article featured an animal adopted from the Animal Control Services
Shelter by Mrs. Beverly Buckner, Clerical Specialist, Women's Health.
Renovations to Health Department Library
Ms. Smith announced a larger conference table and additional chairs are being purchased for the
Thomas Fanning Wood Library. She explained the bookshelves are being rearranged to
provide for additional seating space and stated a more spacious and comfortable environment
would be provided for Board of Health meetings. Upon completion the Board will hold a I
regular monthly meeting in the library and decide if Board of Health meetings will be held
there.
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Other Business:
Roof of Health Department Building:
Mrs. Smith reported no leaks have been detected since the new installation of the health
department roof.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the regular business meeting of the Board of Health was
adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
w.B~h&nnan
New Hanover County Board of Health
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New Hanover County Health Department
Approved:
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At tachmen t 11
Han.Ii~un.1fiçlP¡mith AD.úDal Ho~piW
4605 WriShtsvill.. Av~u..
Wilmin(.!O!I, N.C. 28403
910-199-5587
Fax 910-799-8545
W. Keith Elmore
P.O.Drawer 3489
Wilmington, NC 28406
Dear Keith:
It is my understandiog that the New Hanover County Board of Health has approved the
recommendations for the change in the adoptions policies and procedures subnJitted by the Rabies
Task Force. Furtheml0re, I understand that the Board desired a letter confirming that the local
veterinarians were in agreement in support of the new proposals.
A5 a representative of the WIlmington Animal Emergency CJinic shareholders, which includes 90
perceot of the county veterinarians, I can assu.re you that we are all behind the new policies 100
percent. In addition, I have personally spoken with all but three of the veteriaarians that are not
part of the emergency group, and they have also agreed to do whatever is necessary. Dr. Dennis
Jackson has spoken with one of the three veterinarians I was unable to contact, and plans on
speaking with the other two within the next few days.
Again as representative for the local veterinary community, we are grateful for the quick response
by the Board ofHealtb in dealing with an issue that Qot only is controversial, but complicated as
well. In our opinion. these new policies will not only serve to minimize the risk of human
exposure to rabies, but preserves the important human-animal bond.
Yours truly,
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