04/04/1990 BOH Minutes
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The New Hanover County Board of Health met on Wednesday, April 4,
1990, at the New Hanover County Health Department Animal Control
Division, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members Present:
John Leonard, DVM, Chairman
Don Blake, Vice Chairman
Pascal Camak, DDS
Michael Goins, OD
Amaryallis Rehder, MA
Sheram Robinson
Marlene Rosenkoetter, PhD
Alan Thomas, MD
Catherine Vangellow, MPH
Members Absent:
Albert Corbett
Julius Howard, RhP
Others Present:
Robert S. Parker
Frances F. De Vane, Recording Secretary
Wanda Copley, County Attorney
Department Focal:
Mr. Ron Currie, Animal Control Director, and Ms. Miriam Nell,
Animal Control Supervisor, conducted a tour of the Animal Control
Shelter prior to the Board of Health meeting. Mr. Currie
introduced new employee, Chloe Rivenbark, Animal Control Officer,
to the Board.
Dr. Leonard called the business meeting to order at 8: 45 A.M.
Ms. Amaryallis Rehder presented the invocation. Dr. Leonard
called for corrections to the minutes of the meetings of March 7,
1990 and March 13, 1990. The minutes were approved as presented.
Committee Reports:
Personnel
Upgrade of Home Health Administrative
Administrative Officer I:
Assistant
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Ms. Vangellow, Personnel Committee Chairman, reported that the
Personnel Committee met on April 4, 1990, at 7:30 A.M. to
consider the upgrade of the Home Health Administrative
Assistant I position to Administrative Officer I. She stated
that Mr. Alan Mozingo, Assistant Finance Director, Ms. Karen
Hogan, Home Health Director, and Mr. Parker have recommended the
upgrade of this position.
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Ms. Vangellow moved that the Board of Health approve the
reclassification of the Home Health Administrative Assistant I I
position to Administrative Officer I and submit the request to
the New Hanover County Commissioners for their consideration.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED.
Budget
Ms. Lynda Smith, Assistant Health Director, reported that the
FY90-91 Budget will be submitted to Mr. Allan O'Neil, County
Manager on April 5, 1990. Mr. Blake, Chairman, Budget
Committee, will present the recommended budget at the next Board
of Health meeting.
Mr. Parker stated that the budget request includes the
establishment of six new positions in the health department. The
staffing of the New Hanover County Jail has become a problem and
is taking staff time from other Health Department programs. The
responsibility for medical staffing of the Jail belongs to the
Sheriff's Department. Mr. Parker expressed the crucial need for
one additional position to staff the Jail.
New Business:
New Animal Control Shelter
Ms. Donna Neal, Chairman, New Hanover County Animal Control
Advisory Board, presented the need for a new Animal Control
Shelter to provide adequate space to house animals and a separate
area for diseased animals. She stated that the present shelter
does not meet the specifications of the proposed Animal Welfare
Act. The Animal Control Advisory Board is considering creating a
Foundation to assist in acquiring funds for a new Animal Control
Shelter and to study the feasibility of a merger between New
Hanover County Animal Control and the Humane Society. The Humane
Society would shelter all the animals and Animal Control Division
would serve as the enforcement agency.
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Ms. Neal stated that the need for a new Animal Control Shelter is
on the County Commissioners Capital Projects Agenda. She
requested the support of the Board of Health in presenting this
request to the County Manager and County Commissioners.
Unfinished Business:
Smoking Pollution Control Regulation
Dr. Leonard stated that he met with the New Hanover County
Commissioners on March 26, 1990, to present the Proposed Smoking
Pollution Control Regulation (SPCR). Dr. Leonard stated that the
County Commissioners felt the SPCR was too restrictive. He I
referred the Board to a letter to the Commissioners written by
Dr. Goins and Dr. Leonard. Board members were asked to review
this letter.
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A lengthy discussion was held regarding the SPCR and the health
hazards of smoking to the general public. Dr. Thomas stated that
because of the no smoking policy at New Hanover Memorial
Hospital, the decrease in health problems has resulted in
increased staff attendance and an enormous savings of dollars.
Ms. Rehder and Dr. Leonard suggested that the Board consider
furnishing the County Commissioners with more data on the health
hazards of smoking and the smoking regulation. He stated that he
would like to see the Board get the County Commissioners
endorsement of the SPCR.
Mr. Parker reminded the Board that the proposed SPCR does allow
smoking in a bar area. Dr. Camak expressed concern over the
financial expense the regulation would cost restaurant owners.
Ms. Wanda Copley, Assistant County Attorney, informed the Board
that revenues from bars in New Hanover County are based upon a
percentage of income earned from food and bar services. Mr.
Blake suggested that the Board should check ABC laws that
designate the proportionate percentage of food and bar revenues.
Dr. Thomas stated that he was in favor of presenting the proposed
SPCR as a draft at the Public Hearing without modifications. Ms.
Rehder expressed that she concurred with Dr. Thomas due to
community response in favor of the SPCR. Dr. Rosenkoetter and
Dr. Goins also supported presenting the proposed regulation as a
draft at the Public Hearing.
Dr. Leonard moved that the Smoking Pollution Control Regulation
state that no smoking would be allowed in bar areas in New
Hanover County. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
After discussion Dr. Leonard asked the Board for their direction
on whether to send a letter inviting the County Commissioners to
meet with the Board of Health to discuss the proposed SPCR. Dr.
Leonard called for a vote on this issue. Upon vote, the VOTE WAS
UNANIMOUS.
The Board of Health decided to hold the first Public Hearing on
the SPCR at 7 P.M. on Monday, April 30, 1990, in the New Hanover
County Health Department Auditorium.
Mr. Blake, on behalf of the Board of Health, thanked Ms. Copley
for the outstanding legal services she has rendered to the Board
of Health and New Hanover County regarding the SPCR. He
expressed his appreciation for the inordinate amount of time Ms.
Copley has spent drafting this policy.
Board Member Comments:
Dr. Leonard stated that the Public Health Celebration and Health
Fair was excellent and an example of great community relations.
Dr. Goins expressed his appreciation to the staff. Ms. Rehder
commented that the program and displays were excellent. Dr.
Leonard and Mr. Blake recommended that the Board officially
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express their appreciation to the staff for the overwhelmingly
successful event.
Health Director Comments:
Mr. Parker stated that the staff had been working on the Public
Health Celebration and Health Fair since last summer. The
positive effects of the celebration had been morale building and
had received peak staff support. Mr. Parker reported that
between 500 and 600 attended the Health Fair. Mr. Parker thanked
the Board for their support of the Public Health Celebration and
Health Fair. Copies of the program for this event were
distributed to Board members.
Mr. Parker stated that Mr. Dan Shingleton, Regional Maternal and
Child Care Supervisor and Keynote Speaker for the Public Health
Celebration, had presented to the Health Department a framed
picture of the home of Dr. Thomas Wood, Father of Public Health
in North Carolina, and an article which is displayed on the
Library hallway wall. Dr. Leonard suggested that the dedication
of the Health Department Library to Dr. Wood should be
considered.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:50
A.M.
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Dr. John Leonard
~ ~rfJ::
Robert S. Parker
Secretary to the Board
Approved:
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