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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM012116JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, January 21, 2016 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, Chair, County Commissioner, District #2 Kathleen Kler, County Commissioner, District #3 Catharine Robinson, Vice -Chair, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, Citizen at large Staff Members Thomas Locke, Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Dir Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager Jared Keefer, Env. Health Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Michael Dawson, WQ Manager Dunia Faulx, Community Health Dir Chair Sheila Westerman called the January, 2016 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: John Austin, Phil Johnson, Catharine Robinson, David Sullivan, Sheila Westerman Members Excused: Kathleen Kler Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Denise Banker, Michael Dawson, Dunia Faulx, Jared Keefer, Tom Locke, Philip Morley, Veronica Shaw APPROVAL OF AGENDA Jean Baldwin, Director, Jefferson County Public Health, informed the Board that additional information was being distributed to be added to packet materials under Old Business #3; John Austin, Citizen at Large, requested items be added to Old Business: #6 Sewage issue follow up, and asked whether the Port Townsend Paper Corporation's (PTPC) Financial Assurances set- aside account was interest bearing. Jared Keefer confirmed that the account is interest bearing and responded to a question asked by Phil Johnson, Commissioner, about whether the account was tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Mr. Keefer stated that the interest bearing account isn't tied to the CPI, but the PTPC's Financial Assurances document is. Member Austin further requested an addition to New Business: #5 Water Fluoridation. Chair Westerman asked for approval of the January 21, 2016 Agenda. Member Johnson moved to approve the agenda as amended; the motion was seconded by Member Austin. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. ELECTION OF 2016 BOARD OF HEALTH CHAIR AND VICE -CHAIR Chair Westerman opened the election of the 2016 Board of Health Chair and Vice -Chair. Member Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, nominated David Sullivan, Commissioner, for the position of Chair of the Board of Health. Member Austin seconded the nomination. No further discussion. The nomination was put to a vote and passed unanimously. Member Buhler nominated Catharine Robinson, City of Port Townsend, for the position of Vice Chair of the Board of Health. Member Johnson seconded the nomination. No further discussion. The nomination was put to vote and passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Sullivan called for approval of the minutes of the December 17, 2015 meeting of the Board of Health. Member Buhler moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by Member Austin. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public Comment OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Letter to Dept. of Ecology Regarding Funding for Lake Algae Monitoring The Board, at a previous meeting, had asked that a letter be written to the State Department of Ecology stating the importance of ongoing funding for monitoring area lakes for toxic algae. Jared Keefer, Director, Environmental Health, asked for responses to the draft letter which was provided to Board members in their packets. Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager, explained the research cited in the letter. Member Westerman questioned the likelihood of additional funding being provided and wondered out loud if the letter was sufficiently forceful in advocating for continued funding. A discussion ensued about the dangers of toxic algae blooms, the likely consequences if monitoring is suspended, the regulatory jurisdiction of specific lakes, the viability of State Parks, and alternate funding sources. It was decided the letter should be rewritten in a more forceful manner with an emphasis on the public health consequences of suspending the monitoring program. Member Austin suggest the letter be more widely distributed. Chair Sullivan moved the letter be rewritten for his signature. Member Austin motioned. Member Westerman seconded the motion. The motion carried. 2. Report on Northeast Jefferson Clean Water Project 2 Mr. Dawson reported to the Board the findings and highlights of the Clean Water Project. Widespread monitoring resulted in identifying sources of E. coli bacterial pollution in area streams and waterways. The project included the City of Port Townsend which enabled storm water outfall monitoring. Jefferson County Environmental Health partnered with the City of Port Townsend and the Port of Port Townsend in a collaborative approach to finding ways to mitigate pollution at the source. Outreach to stakeholders in surrounding communities proved a successful strategy for providing education and enlisting cooperation. 3. Designation of Olympic Accountable Community of Health Ms. Baldwin informed the Board that the three county effort, which got its start a year into the statewide process, had achieved designation as an Accountable Community of Health (ACH). This is a major step in the ongoing process of securing the Medicaid waivers that will hopefully give local ACHs greater flexibility in deciding how to use Federal dollars to support of specific local needs. These local needs are being identified through extensive data gathering and the work of the various Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) groups and will be presented to the three ACH subcommittees—Planning and Assessment, Sustainability, and Governance. These subcommittees are tasked with the goal of submitting a final report to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Applications justifying how certain programs provide return on investment to CMS have recently been submitted by the ACH. These applications showed how Nurse Family Partnership, School-based Health Centers, Access to Dental Care, and Access to Primary Care and Mental Health Care save Medicaid dollars overall. These applications, demonstrating how programs that have been identified as focus areas for the ACH, will be instrumental in justifying the Medicaid Waiver. Dunia Faulx, Community Health Director, Jefferson County Public Health, told the Board the ACH is working on the next steps in the Waiver process. 4. Community Health Director Press Release The press release submitted to the Jefferson County Leader made front page news. The Board further extended its welcome to Dunia Faulx. 5. Medication Disposal Letter Dr. Thomas Locke, Health Officer, Jefferson County Public Health, reported to the Board on ongoing nationwide efforts to convince the Food and Drug Administration to alter its policy regarding household disposal of unused medication. As it stands, the FDA recommends unused prescription medications be flushed down toilets, eventually ending up in ground water or in sewage treatment plants that are not designed to remove these chemicals from wastewater. The letter Dr. Locke presented urges the FDA to work with the EPA, the DEA, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to promote pharmaceutical medicine manufacturer take - back programs to assure the best medication -specific method of disposal is used for leftover household medications. 6. Sewage Issue Follow up Mr. Keefer explained to the Board the actions that were taken in regards to the discovery and subsequent curtailment of an egregious violation of septic regulations in the County. Environmental Health Specialists continue to monitor the property and enforce regulations. NEW BUSINESS 1. Designation of Opiate Overdose (fatal and non-fatal) as a Local Notifiable Condition Dr. Locke reported to the Board on the ongoing need to address the alarming increase of heroin use and the recent action by the Clallam County Board of Health to make opiate overdose a locally notifiable condition. By making this condition notifiable, local health jurisdictions are better able to gather data and contact the parties involved to offer overdose prevention assistance. Under this proposal, the hospital emergency departments and the county coroner would be required to notify JCPH of all opiate overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal. Making a specific condition notifiable is a power assigned to the local health officer under WAC 246-101-505(3). Dr. Locke recommended that the Board of Health consider a motion directing him to make opiate overdoses notifiable using the same process adopted in Clallam County. Additionally, JCPH is working to make overdose treatment kits available in its Syringe Exchange Program in an effort to reduce opiate overdose fatalities. Chair Sullivan motioned to the Board for the approval of a directive that Dr. Thomas Locke, Health Officer, Jefferson County Public Health, designate Opiate Overdose (fatal and non-fatal) a Local Notifiable Condition. Member Westerman moved to approve. Member Austin seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Update —Mental Health/Chemical Dependency, Access to Health Care, Immunizations, and Chronic Disease Prevention Ms. Faulx retorted to the Board that standardized frameworks are being used in the ongoing CHIP process and presented a timeline for the CHIP groups' ongoing work. Ms. Faulx reported that 2016 strategies are being developed and they will be included in the plan that will be presented in August. 3. Public Health Heroes Workgroup Ms. Baldwin asked for volunteers to participate in the process of choosing this year's Public Health Heroes. A board member is needed to review nominations and select the 2016 Public Health Heroes. Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager, and Dunia Faulx, Community Health Director are other members of the workgroup. Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, volunteered to be the Board representative on the group. 4. Jefferson County Public Health Policy Updates Karen Obermeyer, Community Health Educator, Jefferson County Public Health, reported to the Board that Policy Updates—Tobacco Use, Breastfeeding in the Workplace, Employee Breaks, and Physical Activity in the Workplace—were well received by Philip Morley, Jefferson County Administrator and Erin Lundgren, Clerk of the Board, Jefferson County. The County is considering adopting the policies countywide. The next steps in updating the policies is to introduce a healthy eating component. Ms. Obermeyer solicited ideas from Board members. 2 Input was summarized and the Board moved to support the countywide adoption of the four policies. Chair Sullivan motioned the Board to support the countywide adoption of the Tobacco Use, Breastfeeding in the Workplace, Employee Breaks, and Physical Activity in the Workplace policies. Member Robinson moved polices be supported. Member Buhler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Obermeyer is working with various businesses in the county to update workplace wellness policies. 5. Fluoridation Member Austin began a discussion of the public health merits of community water fluoridation. He lauded the courage of the Port Angeles City Council in standing firm against vituperative attacks against its decision to continue fluoridation of its municipal water system. Board members discussed this issue, drawing parallels to the resistance being encountered in Jefferson County regarding mandatory childhood immunizations, another public health priority. Dr. Locke commented that broad community support, usually in the range of 65% or greater, is recommended before a community embarks on a campaign to implement community water fluoridation. No formal study of support for CWF has been undertaken in Jefferson County. ACTIVITY UPDATE Mr. Keefer informed the Board that Food Permit Applications were arriving and that applicants have not commented about fee increases. There are some questions concerning categories and their designated titles. Keefer further reported on a successful planning committee presentation. Additionally, Mr. Keefer told the Board Environmental Health is working diligently to complete all Septic Permit Applications. There was no public comment. PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2016 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Sullivan adjourned the January 21, 2016 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:28 p.m. �1 COIVNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Phil J David Sulli Catharine Robinson, Vice -Chair Jo Austin, Member Al1Buhler, Member Uj �Z' 4e� Sheila Westerman, Member _ko_ I tLe_c, �_' 4�� Kathleen Kler, Member Respectfully submitted D. Banker 2