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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM051712JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:30 PM — 4:30 PM Cotton Building, 607 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Phil Johnson, Chair, County Commissioner District #1 Thomas Locke, MD, MPH Health Officer David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Jean Baldwin, Public Health Services Director John Austin, County Commissioner, District #3 Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Director Roberta Frissell, citizen at large (County) Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Services Director Catharine Robinson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large (City) Jill Buhler, Vice Chair, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 Chair Johnson called the meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 PM. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, John Austin, Sheila Westerman, Jill Buhler, Catharine Robinson Members Excused: Roberta Frissell Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Julia Danskin, Jared Keefer, Veronica Shaw Also in attendance: Scott Lindquist, MD, MPH, Kitsap County Health Officer and Deputy Jefferson County Health Officer APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Austin moved to approve the agenda for the May 17, 2012 BOH meeting. Member Buhler seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Robinson requested that in the second paragraph of page 4 under Public Comments the word infirmed is changed to infirm. Member Robinson requested that Citizens name be used at their comments in the minutes. It was suggested that this is something that should be discussed among the Board Members as an agenda item and a decision can be made at that time. Member Westerman requested that the second paragraph of page 3 be amended to read `The second recommendation states that where there are no county records available regarding the type, size, location and other applicable information on a septic system, a site plan must be completed and submitted to JCPH by a certified O & M Specialist or licensed designer prior to an inspection by a homeowner.' Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2012 BOH meeting as amended. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. BOH Minutes —May 17, 2012 OLD BUSINESS and INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Letter to Port Townsend Paper Company Ms. Baldwin announced there were changes with ORCA and the mill, so there is an updated letter which is enclosed in the agenda packet. Correspondence from Citizens Copies of correspondence were included in the agenda packet. NEW BUSINESS Public Hearing — 8.15 On -Site Sewage Code Linda Atkins, Environmental Health Specialist gave a staff report on the process of the revising the On -Site Sewage Code. Ms. Atkins report included a history leading to the code revision, formation of a work group and the work group's process to develop recommendations to allow for homeowner inspections of their own septic systems. Kristina Mayer, Facilitator for the O & M Homeowner Process reviewed the process that JCPH took to arrive at the recommended code revisions. Ms. Mayer described how the work group was formed. There were work group meetings and 3 public meetings held. All materials were posted prior to the meetings and there was a question and answer that built from each meeting. The 5 issues that resonated throughout were; the cost, difference of opinion of whether there is a water quality problem, where did that problem emanate from, privacy issues and the burden of more regulation. Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. Tom Thiersch, resident of Unincorporated Jefferson County, had comments on corrections that are needed to the code. He expressed concern over what problem is trying to be resolved. He feels there is no proof that the problem is attributed to failing systems. He also expressed concern over this being an ordinance that applies to the entire county when there are only a small percentage of systems that need to be addressed. Finally he addressed the $51 fee which he feels does not reflect the actual cost of staff time. Dan Nasman, Manager of Ocean Grove Association, thanked Jared Keefer for meeting with him to answer questions and also thanked Linda Atkins who met with the homeowners association to answer question. His only concern over the new policy is in regards to the $51 fee. He gave several examples of what neighboring counties charge. Mr. Nasman also questioned the $179 waiver application fee. Finally, Mr. Nasman is hopeful that after a few inspections the fees are able to be lowered as the amount of work is lowered. Mike Belenski stated he would like to see the legal review that the code revisions went through. He cited an RCW which requires a search warrant for someone to go on his property to inspect his system if they think it is failing. BOH Minutes — May 17, 2012 Board members asked questions regarding the code revisions, enforcement, fees, definitions of terms used in the code and suggested changes to the code. Ms. Atkins outlined the proposed changes that will be made to the code. The first change is on page 19 Section 7C the word "warrant" will be changed to "affirms". The second change on page 23 in the section that addresses a family member or non -family member making application will be moved to number 3. Thirdly, page 4 under fees the list of fees will be removed and the definition of what a fee is will remain, and finally the definition of homeowner will be corrected. Member Austin moved to adopt the Jefferson County Septic Code 8.15 with the minor amendments which were discussed. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 5 in favor and one nay vote by David Sullivan. (amended with Board's approval) Call for Public Hearing on fee Linda Atkins explained that the fee that is on the table for discussion is the $10 fee which allows JCPH to review the application and authorize a homeowner inspection and $5 for each additional septic system the homeowner owns and wishes to inspect. Member Austin moved to hold a public hearing for the O & M fee at the June 21, 2012 BOH meeting. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Communicable Disease Performance Measures Lisa McKenzie, Communicable Disease Program Coordinator, outlined key points from the 2011 Communicable Disease Performance Measures which was included in the agenda packet. Ms. McKenzie pointed out that data from the new State law which requires parents to have a risk benefit discussion with their medical provider prior to parents exempting their children from school immunization requirements is forthcoming and will be tracked closely. Ms. McKenzie also mentioned 3 vaccine assistance programs that are available through JCPH which offer assistance with the HPV vaccine, Hepatitis A/B vaccine and the Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis vaccine. She also announced that through a quality improvement process in Family Planning they were able to increase Chlamydia screening from 49.9% in 2010 to 62.2% in 2011. Finally, she stated that there was an increase in the number of visits and the number of syringes exchanged in the syringe exchange program. Reappointment of Substance Abuse Advisory Board — Sheriff Tony Hernandez A copy of a letter from Sheriff Tony Hernandez was included in the agenda packet which confirmed his interest to continue to be a member of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Robinson moved to approve appointment of Sheriff Tony Hernandez for another term on the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. Member Austin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. BOH Minutes — May 17, 2012 Summary of 2011 Regional Duty Officer Calls Julia Danskin reviewed a report which was included in the agenda packet that outlined the number and types of after-hours emergency notification and emergency response system activation calls that were received in 2011. Ms. Danskin pointed out that in 2012 the numbers are expected to be increased due to the current Pertussis epidemic. None ACTIVITY UPDATE PUBLIC COMMENTS A citizen expressed his concern over the ash landfill at PTPC operating under a temporary permit and he feels it should be permitted as a limited purpose landfill. A citizen urged the Board to support a limited use permit for the ash landfill at PTPC. She also listed monitoring and tests she feels should be provided by PTPC. A citizen responded to comments by the Board during the Public Hearing for the On -Site Sewage Code. A citizen responded to an article in the PDN regarding the Port Angeles Co -Generation Plant. A citizen urged the Board to get involved with the consequences for public health from the ash dump at the mill. A citizen thanked the Board for their work. She also addressed the scrubber being installed in 1 boiler at PTPC. A citizen expressed concern over research which shows the possibility of a large earthquake that could cause large waves that would flood land. A citizen addressed the possibility of activity late at night at PTPC. She also shared information regarding family members with health effects she feels are from the mill. A citizen is concerned about the toxic materials that are in construction debris that would be burned at the Co -Generation plant and the health effects of breathing those toxins. A citizen shared the health effects she has had from breathing wood smoke and is concerned of worsening health effects if the mill starts to burn wood. A citizen urged the Board to look at the economic future of Port Townsend if tourists stop coming to Port Townsend due to the health effects of breathing wood smoke. A citizen is concerned that his children's asthma that developed, after moving to Port Townsend, was due to breathing the smoke from the mill. BOH Minutes —May 17, 2012 A citizen feels the mill is dictating when he can breathe clean air. A citizen addressed the possibility of nitrocellulose being at the mill. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Jean Baldwin announced that June 19, 2012 t WASAC is having a meeting and invited the Board to attend. The meeting is being held in SeaTac. Jean Baldwin announced she will be compiling the letters that are being received from the Sierra Club website. The next scheduled BOH meeting will be held June 21, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johnson adjourned the BOH meeting at 4:32 PM JEFFERSON CO NTY BOARD OF HEALTH Ph John , Chair WBuhr, Vice Chair Excused Roberta Frissell, Member David Sulliv Member Catharine Robinson, Member J Austin, Member '�)' kz�� �A 0-41ko--� Sheila Westerman, Member Respectfully Submitted: Stacie Reid BOH Minutes — May 17, 2012