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Home My WebLink AboutM121511R. E CT I V Eil` JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MAR 13 2012 MINUTES Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 2:30 PM — 44&WERSON COUNTY Public Health Conference Room, 615 Sheridan Street, P , I Board Members Phil Johnson, Vice Chair, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Roberta Frissell, Citizen at large (County) Kristen Nelson, Chair, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Staff Members Thomas Locke, MD, MPH Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Director Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Director Chair Nelson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin, Roberta Frissell, Kristen Nelson, Sheila Westerman, Jill Buhler Staff Present: Dr. Thomas Locke, Jean Baldwin, Veronica Shaw, Julia Danskin APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Austin requested that item #3 under Old Business, Information from the State, be added to the agenda. Member Austin moved to approve the agenda for the December 15, 2011 BOH meeting as amended. Member Buhler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes for the November 17, 2011 BOH meeting. Member Frissell seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Nelson requested the person who seconds the motion be named in the minutes. PUBLIC COMMENTS None BOH Minutes December 15, 2011 OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2012 Jefferson County Budget Summary Ms. Shaw reported that she met with Philip Morley, County Administrator, regarding a reduction in the 2012 Water Quality County contribution by $30,000, leaving a total contribution of $50,000. Ms. Shaw expressed concern that with the reduction in the County funds, grant dollars will not be able to be matched and current deliverables will not be met. Ms. Baldwin stressed that Water Quality is important because Water Quality grants and programs are supporting Environmental Health staff, which has helped to avoid layoffs in Environmental Health. A copy of the Recommended 2012 Jefferson County Budget was included in the agenda packet. EPA Workgroup Update Linda Atkins, Environmental Health Specialist, updated the Board on the progress of the EPA workgroup. Ms. Atkins stated that 3 bids were obtained, a choice has been made, and a contract has been signed and is going to the Board of County Commissioners for signature. An ad was placed in the December 7t" Leader for workgroup participants and she expects the first meeting to be in January. Information from the State Member Austin distributed a handout on the delivery of service from the State Health Director, which shows the impact Public Health has had on Washington State. New Business Community Health Concerns Regarding Biomass Energy Plants: Kees Kolff, MD MPH, and Wendy White, ARNP Dr. Locke briefed the Board on the regulatory structure for permitting industrial activities such as the Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC). Air pollution control authority exclusively rests with federal and state agencies. Local governments, including local boards of health are excluded from air pollution permitting or enforcement activities. Local government authority is largely restricted to land use and building permit -related activities. Kees Kolff, MD MPH, of The Sierra Club, gave a presentation on health concerns regarding burning biomass at a proposed PTPC cogeneration projects. The two issues of greatest concern are emissions of dioxins and ultra -fine particulates. He presented studies and statistics on the health risks of being exposed to dioxins and ultra -fine particulates which could potentially be released into the environment from such a facility. Following the presentation there was a period of question and answers and discussion among Board members as to additional information they would like to receive on this issue. BOH Minutes December 15, 2011 Year End Summary of JCPH Clinic Client Reviews Ms. Baldwin included in the agenda packet a copy of all JCPH Clinic and Environmental Health client comments from 2010-2011, which as she pointed out were all positive comments. Washington State budget: Special Session Update Dr. Locke discussed a letter from Doug Porter, Director of Washington State Health Care Authority concerning the Governor's Supplemental Budget Proposals, a copy of which was included in the agenda packet. The letter discusses the $2 billion in proposed budget cuts from the current supplemental budget. These cuts will have negative impacts on the most vulnerable residents of Washington State. Ms. Baldwin discussed how she will not be able to defend the smaller programs, like AIDS prevention because of these cuts. Proposed Legislation for 2012: S-3335 On -Site Sewage Program Management Plan Funding Dr. Locke stated that Bill S-3335 is to be introduced in the regular session of the Legislature in January and would allow the local Board of Health to impose fees to cover the costs of administering the on-site sewage management plan. The bill would also allow the county treasurer to collect these assessments on behalf of the local board of health. Call for Public Hearing for JCPH Fee Updates — January 19, 2012 Board of Health Meeting Ms. Baldwin announced the Public Hearing did not get posted in the local newspaper in time in order to hold the public hearing at the December 2011 BOH meeting. Member Austin moved to publicize the Public Hearing for JCPH fees for the January 19, 2012 Board of Health meeting. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. None ACTIVITY UPDATE AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Dr. Locke asked how much information they would like to have on the biomass issue. Member Westerman requested more information on the Puget Sound Air Qualities position and a copy of the SEPA plan that was adopted. Dr. Locke stated that Eveleen Muehlethaler, Vice President for Environmental Affairs at PTPC, has offered to respond to technical questions on this issue. Member Johnson voiced that it would be useful to have a representative from ORCAA (Olympic Regional Clean Air Authority) to present the information from the report he prepared for the BOH Minutes December 15, 2011 Stockholm Environmental Institute in Seattle and that he will invite him to speak at a BOH meeting. The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held Thursday January 19, 2012 from 2:30 — 4:30 PM at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. Vice Chair Johnson adjourned the December BOH meeting at 4:20 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Kristen Nelson Chair 1 Buhler, Member Roberta Frissell, Member � lql� W bl-� 4WVVV`-�� Sheila Westerman, Member Phil �Jo Vier J ember David Sullivan, Member BOH Minutes December 15, 2011