Tri-County Board of Health Meeting April 9, 2013 Minutes

Transcription

1 Tri-County Board of Health Meeting Minutes The Board of Health was officially called to order at 4:37 p.m. by Thomas Fawell, M.D., Board President, at Tri-County Health Department, 6162 S. Willow Drive, Suite 100, Greenwood Village, Colorado Other members comprising a quorum included Janice Brainard; Kaia Gallagher, Ph.D.; Richard Hale, and Donald Parrot. Dr. Richard Vogt, Executive Director, and several Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) employees were also in attendance. Introductions Stacy Weinberg, Director of Epidemiology, Planning and Communication, introduced Erica Berg, Tobacco Policy Coordinator. Brian Hlavacek, Acting Director of Environmental Health, introduced Keith Homersham, Environmental Health Manager. Mark Harkleroad, Director of Administration and Finance, introduced Mike Belieu, Controller. Approval of the Minutes of the February 12, 2013 Meeting The minutes of the February 12, 2013 meeting were presented to the Board for review. MOTION: Ms. Brainard moved to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2013 meeting as written and Dr. Gallagher seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Approval of the 2012 Year-End Financial Statements Mr. Harkleroad presented the 2012 year-end financial statements to the Board for review. He informed the Board that TCHD completed the year at 96.50% of the budget. The remaining amount of $65,683 was placed in TCHD s fund balance. Dr. Gallagher referred to the unspent portion and inquired whether TCHD would use the 2012 budget to develop the fiscal year 2014 budget. Dr. Vogt discussed the difficulty in predicting the budgeted amount to the penny due to the opacity of the federal government (sequestration). Additionally, we have not yet received budget information from our counties. Dr. Vogt stated that we use the information we have to make our best estimate. Mr. Hale asked whether TCHD could target a particular county when county-specific funding is reduced or eliminated. Dr. Vogt explained that a reduction in county per capita funding would result in a reduction of services across all three counties; however, reduction or elimination of county funding for a specific program would result in reduced services or program elimination for that county only. Mr. Harkleroad stated that TCHD s accounting system accommodates program -by-program budgeting. MOTION: Mr. Parrot moved to accept the 2012 year-end financial statements as presented and Mr. Hale seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.

2 Page 2 Approval of the Financial Statements Dated January 31, 2013 Mr. Harkleroad presented the financial statements dated January 31, 2013 to the Board for review. He noted that expenditures were at 7.70 percent of budget with 8.33 percent of the year complete. Mr. Harkleroad pointed out that our personnel expenses are running lower than budgeted. Mr. Parrot noted that there were more explanations in the Comments column than usual and remarked that it was very helpful. Mr. Harkleroad stated that he has begun adding comments whenever there are significant shortfalls in revenue or overages in expenditures; usually amounts in excess of $25,000. MOTION: Ms. Brainard moved to accept the financial statements dated January 31, 2013 as presented and Dr. Gallagher seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Public Hearing Request: Proposed Environmental Health Fees Brian Hlavacek, Acting Director of Environmental Health, explained that, pursuant to C.R.S (5)(j) and C.R.S (1), the TCHD Board of Health may assess fees equal to actual and direct costs. A fee calculation formula previously adopted by the Board of Health was used in 2013 to review program fees. He presented the proposed fees to the Board and summarized the major changes. MOTION: Mr. Parrot moved to hold a Public Hearing to consider adoption of proposed Environmental Health fee changes on June 11, 2013 and Mr. Hale seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Impact of Sequestration on TCHD s Nursing and WIC Programs Dr. Vogt discussed the potential federal funding reduction in TCHD s sequester-eligible nursing and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs. TCHD has planned for the worst-case scenario, a 5.1 % funding cut retroactive to the beginning of the federal fiscal year, to ensure client services will not be impacted should sequestration occur. Additionally, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has stated that they will absorb a 5.1% reduction in the immunization and Family Planning programs. Update on TCHD s Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP) Ms. Weinberg informed the Board that TCHD has completed Phase III of the Public Health Improvement Planning process, Community Assessment. TCHD held eleven focus groups comprised of various sets of community stakeholders, including a Board of Health focus group and a County Commissioner focus group. The top three themes that emerged were: 1) access to health care; 2) mental health; and 3) obesity and healthy eating. TCHD also conducted a staff survey to which 151 individuals responded. Once again, the top three themes were: 1) obesity; 2) access to health care; and 3) mental health. Additionally, staff were asked to select two of Colorado s Ten Winnable Battles. The Winnable Battles selected were: 1) Obesity; and 2) Mental health and Substance Abuse. Unintended Pregnancy ranked third (access to care is not one of Colorado s Ten Winnable Battles).

3 Page 3 The third component of the community assessment was looking at health indicator data. The same three issues stood out as being significant issues in TCHD s jurisdiction. The next steps in the Public Health Improvement Planning process are: 1) Capacity Assessment; 2) Prioritization; and 3) Plan Development. Dr. Gallagher inquired whether TCHD would develop one plan for TCHD s jurisdiction or a plan for each of our three counties. Ms. Weinberg stated that TCHD would develop one plan for TCHD s jurisdiction which will apply across all three counties. Dr. Fawell requested another update on TCHD s Public Health Improvement Planning process at the June 11, 2013 Board of Health meeting. ACTION ITEM: MS. Weinberg to provide another update on TCHD s Public Health Improvement Planning process at the June 11, 2013 Board of Health meeting. Status of New Commissioner Orientation Dr. Vogt informed the Board that New Commissioner Orientation has been scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2013 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at TCHD s Administrative Office. The new commissioners from all three counties plan to be present. Dr. Vogt invited interested Board of Health members to attend. Report From Board of Health Members on Their Meeting With the Douglas County Commissioners Mr. Hale stated that he, Ms. Joswick and Mr. Parrot met with all three County Commissioners, the Deputy County Manager, and the Director of Public Affairs. He relayed that the Commissioners are generally pleased with TCHD and that Commissioner Hilbert appreciated being included in the PHIP focus group. Per Mr. Hale, Commissioner Hilbert is also pleased with TCHD s current financial planning process. Mr. Parrot stated that Ms. Joswick discussed current immunization challenges as they apply to Douglas County schools, especially with the restrictions imposed by the Affordable Care Act. She emphasized the need to vaccinate both children and adults. Mr. Parrot stated that Wendy Holmes, Director of Public Affairs, asked to be placed on our Health Alert Network (HAN) distribution list. Also, Ms. Holmes suggested TCHD optimize its website to ensure it is listed when public health issues are Googled. ACTION ITEM: Michele Askenazi, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, to add the Directors of Public Affairs for all three counties to the HAN distribution list. Executive Director s Report TCHD s Environmental Health Division to Receive 2013 NACCHO Model Practice Award TCHD s Environmental Health Employee Training Program has been selected as a model practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). This is the tenth consecutive year that one or more TCHD programs have received this distinction. No other

4 Page 4 local health department has accomplished this feat. Model Practice recipients will accept their awards at the NACCHO Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, July 10-12, Revised Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Regulation On March 12, 2013, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) held a rulemaking hearing to consider the proposed Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Regulation (Regulation #43). The proposed regulation is the result of a ten-year process to complete a key recommendation made by the 2002 Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS) Steering Committee Report and reflects significant and important advances in the science and practice of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS). Regulation #43 is expected to become effective July TCHD Receives Health Impact Assessment Grant TCHD was recently awarded a $250,000 two-year Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Program grant through the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Kaiser Permanente Colorado. TCHD will collaborate with Adams County Open Space and Adams County Planning and Development to conduct two HIAs. Additionally, TCHD must develop a sustainable, self-supporting HIA program for future development of HIAs in the Denver-metro region that routinely consider health in decision making. TCHD s program grant will focus on incorporating HIA work in land use and transportation planning and will build regional capacity by engaging the academic community, local planning leadership and community partners. Operation Spore Update The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s (CDC s) Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is a federally funded effort to prepare major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas to effectively respond to a large scale bioterrorist incident by dispensing medication to their entire identified population within 48 hours of the decision to do so. As part of this grant program, the ten counties of Colorado s North Central Region partnered with El Paso and Park Counties to conduct a mass prophylaxis exercise on March 20-21, TCHD used this opportunity to host several workshops and trainings leading up to the full scale exercise and focused on both staff and population prophylaxis. TCHD Receives Favorable Benefits Renewal CIGNA Healthcare Plan, Delta Dental of Colorado, and Vision Service Plan (VSP) will continue to be the medical, dental, and vision care providers for TCHD employees. This year, there is no change in premiums for any of these plans, which means that employer/employee contribution levels and employee benefits will remain the same. Set Agenda for the June 11, 2013 Meeting The June 11, 2013 Board agenda will include: 1) a public hearing on proposed Environmental Health fee changes; 2) an update on TCHD s Public Health Improvement Planning process; 3) budgetary dynamics for fiscal year 2014; and 4) the final audit report for fiscal year 2012.

5 Page 5 The annual Public Health Heroes of the Year reception and awards ceremony will precede the meeting. Board Member Remarks Ms. Brainard informed the Board that she went to TCHD s Operation Spore point of dispensing (POD) at Arapahoe Community College. She was extremely impressed with our staff and how smoothly the POD operated. Closing Remarks None. Adjournment MOTION: Ms. Brainard moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:42 p.m. and Dr. Gallagher seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Thomas Fawell, M.D., President Carole Adducci, Secretary