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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM031915JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, March 19, 2015 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Kathleen Kier, County Commissioner, District #3 Kris Nelson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Chair, Citizen at large Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 &yffffembers Thomas Locke, MD, Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Dir Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager Jared Keefer, Environ. Health Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Chair Westerman called the March 19, 2015 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:29 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: David Sullivan, Jill Buhler, Sheila Westerman, Kathleen Kler, Phil Johnson, Kris Nelson Staff Present: Tom Locke, Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer, Julia Danskin APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Westerman asked that Item 1 of new business be moved to the top of the agenda. Chair Westerman called for the approval of the agenda for the 03/19/2015 meeting of the Board of Health. Member Buhler moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Member Nelson. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Westerman called for approval of the minutes of the 02/19/2015 meeting of the Board of Health. Member Sullivan moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by Member Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. 2015 Jefferson County Public Health Heroes Awards Chair Westerman announced the recipients of the 2015 Jefferson County Public Health Heroes Awards: Jumping Mouse Children's Center and Jefferson County Nurse -Family Partnership. Chair Westerman thanked both groups for the outstanding work they do in our community. Members of both groups were in attendance to accept the awards. 2. 2015 National Public Health Week: "Healthiest Nation 2030: Let's make America the healthiest nation in one generation" Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, JCPH, informed the Board of National Public Health Week, which is April 6 — 12, 2015 and linked with Public Health Heroes Awards, provided them with a handout, and encouraged them to visit the website n hw.or for more information, including information on weekly themes. 3. Food Sanitation and Safety Prevents Food and Waterborne Infections Dr. Locke provided the Board with a handout about a University of Washington study that shows that spending more money on food safety and sanitation decreases food borne illness. Dr. Locke pointed out to the Board the importance of this research and its links to prevention since it is difficult to measure things that don't happen, such as foodborne illnesses that are averted. 4. Health and Wellness EXPO 2015 Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager, JCPH, reported to the Board she and Karen Obermeyer, Health Educator, JCPH, have been working with the hospital and will participate in the Health and Wellness EXPO 2015, which is taking place on March 28 from 9:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. at the Maritime Center. Members of the Board noted they are participating. Member Buhler encouraged everyone to attend. 5. New York Times — Visiting Nurses, Helping Mothers on the Margins Jean Baldwin, Director, JCPH, provided the Board with a New York Times article on Nurse -Family Partnership that focuses on the story of a new mother and her relationship with an NFP nurse. Ms. Baldwin pointed out to the Board the importance of funding for NFP, and informed them the biggest funding is through Thrive WA, with State -matched dollars. NEW BUSINESS 1. Public Hearing: Jefferson County Environmental Health Fee Revisions Member Nelson stated to the Board that she is personally affected by food establishment fees, but that she does not feel that this will bias her decision making on this issue and thus does not feel that she has a conflict of interest. Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Director, JCPH, pointed out that there aren't any revisions in food establishment fees. The remaining Board members expressed no concern with Member Nelson voting. Member Sullivan moved that the changes to the Environmental Health Fees be adopted; Member Johnson seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. 2014 Environmental Health and Water Quality Performance Measures Mr. Keefer provided the Board with performance measures for the Onsite Sewage (OSS) and Septic Operations & Monitoring (O&M), Drinking Water, and Food Safety Programs. Mr. Keefer informed the Board that Solid Waste will be reviewed at the next Board meeting. Mr. Keefer pointed out to the Board the following: in areas of pass/fail, the goals will continue to be listed until they are passed. If a goal is partially complete it is listed as a fail, even if it is on track. 83% of monitoring inspections resulted in some maintenance needed, including 23.3% needing significant maintenance or repair. While the online Homeowner Authorization Program is not up and running yet, three classes were held for 81 individuals with 75 getting authorization to inspect their OSS. When the online Homeowner Authorization Program is running it will send specific reminders to homeowners, rather than generalized reminders that are currently sent out. In 2014, the Drinking Water Program had a lack of funding, available time, and staffing. 2015 is already showing much improvement with a review turnaround time of 8 days, and a focus on cross -training for staff in water quality. A total of 1,568 food workers were trained, both in person and online. The number of temporary food service permits is 185, compared to 273 the prior year. This is due to two vendors getting mobile units and no longer needing temporary permits. Mr. Keefer will correct the formatting/editing issues pointed out by Chair Westerman. 3. Measles Outbreak Update Dr. Locke reported to the Board that no positive measles cases have occurred in Jefferson County; Clallam County has five cases. All Clallam County cases are linked to the original case. Clallam County is still in a state of heightened surveillance mode until two cycles of incubation are over, which will be in April. Dr. Locke reported an increase in interest for vaccines, and pointed out to the Board that clinics are offering extended hours. 4. School Entry Vaccination Levels — Jefferson County Dr. Locke reviewed the School Entry Vaccination Levels for Jefferson County. He informed the Board that all states require vaccines, but the exemptions allowed for religious, philosophical/personal, and medical exemptions vary between states. Immunization levels in Jefferson County schools were reviewed with the Board. 5. Vaccine Hesitancy — State and National Efforts to Increase Community Immunization Levels Dr. Locke provided the Board with the following articles about vaccines and the science of vaccine hesitancy: Bills Banning Most Vaccine Exemptions Fail in Northwest, What doctors should tell parents who are afraid of vaccines, and Responding to Parental Refusals of Immunization of Children. ACTIVITY UPDATE The Board of Health has a vacancy for a city/county representative. Applications are currently being accepted through the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). After an applicant pool is established, Dr. Locke and Member Sullivan will hold interviews and recommend a representative to the BOCC for approval. Chair Westerman encouraged all Board members to recruit applicants, and suggested JCPH continue to run advertisements and write a press release. Ms. Baldwin is attending a presentation at Jefferson Healthcare about Women's Reproductive Rights. It is on March 24 from 2:00 — 4:00 p.m. Dr. Locke is presenting at the Hospital Commission Meeting a summary of information from the Community Health Improvement meeting that took place in January. The meeting is March 25 at 4:30 p.m. Ms. Baldwin encouraged all Board members to attend, and will provide the Board with information and handouts from the January CHI meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR There was no further planning. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2015 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA ADJOURNMENT Chair Westerman adjourned the March 19, 2015 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:26 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Phil David Sullivan, Kris Nelson, Member Respectfully Submitted: Natalie Crump Jill Buhler, Member Sheila Westerman, Chair tteleen Kler, Member