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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM031617JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, March 16, 2017 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Kate Dean, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Kathleen Kier, County Commissioner, District #3 Catharine Robinson, Chair, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, Vice -Chair, Citizen at large Staff Members Thomas Locke, Health Officer Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Dir Stuart Whitford, Env. Health Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Michael Dawson, WQ Manager Jenny Matter, Clerk of the Board Chair Catharine Robinson called the March 16, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Catharine Robinson, David Sullivan, Jill Buhler, Kate Dean, Kathleen Kler, Sheila Westerman Members Excused: John Austin Staff Present: Tom Locke, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Stuart Whitford, Jenny Matter APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Robinson asked for approval of the agenda for the March 16, 2017 meeting. Jill Buhler motioned to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Kathleen Kler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Robinson asked for approval of the minutes of the February 16, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health. Kate Dean motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by David Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Public Health Impacts of Environmental Noise — State Board of Health Assessment Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, spoke about the noise impacts of military aircraft at the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island. Due to the extraordinary amount of noise made by the Growler aircraft, health and wildlife impacts are of significant concern to the residents of Whidbey Island. Impacts to health include altering cognition, inducing the stress response, hearing loss, etc. Addressing this issue has become highly politicized. The Board discussed their concerns about poor civic dialog and conflicting positions between the WA State Board of Health and the Navy, along with their concern over the substantial increase in flights proposed for the future. 2. Mumps and Influenza Updates Dr. Locke reported that cases of mumps are decreasing. Although there are currently no reported cases of mumps in Jefferson, Kitsap or Clallam counties, there is still a risk of transmission. Even when fully immunized, the susceptibility rate around 11 %. Dr. Locke discussed the impacts of mumps outbreaks on schools and the WA State Public Health lab, how mumps are spread, and the range of symptoms. Dr. Locke discussed the efficacy rate of the influenza vaccine and noted that the cases of influenza are declining. The Board discussed public perception of vaccines and the importance of the relationship between a family and their primary care physician as it relates to making the choice to vaccinate or not. The Board discussed school vaccination requirements and ways to obtain information on those not vaccinated, should there be an epidemic. The Board suggested Dr. Locke write an article on vaccines to be published closer to the beginning of the school year. 3. In the Spotlight: U-47700 Dr. Locke informed the Board about the origin, current production and availability of the ultra - potent synthetic opioid, U-47700. There have been deaths from overdoses of U-47700 reported in Washington State. Dr. Locke explained how Naloxone reverses the effects of opioid overdose by binding to receptors in the brain and why it is taking 2-4 times the amount of Naloxone for U- 47700 overdose compared to other opioids. NEW BUSINESS 1. Joint Board Resolution Regarding Funding of a Full Time CHIP Executive Director Jill Buhler reported that the Jefferson County Public Hospital District No. 2 Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to the joint resolution to fund a full-time CHIP Executive Director. Vicki Kirkpatrick summarized the joint meeting that took place on March 9, 2017 between the Board and the Jefferson County Public Hospital District No. 2 Board of Commissioners, and reviewed the minor changes made to the resolution. Member Kathleen Kler motioned to approve the joint Board resolution to fund a full-time CHIP Executive Director and the equivalent of a .25 FTE Epidemiologist for the Community Health Improvement Plan program. The motion was seconded by Member 4 Jill Buhler. The Board briefly discussed funding obligations. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Legislative Update Dr. Locke reviewed some of the items on the WSALPHO Bill Status Report. Stuart Whitford added that there were some bills in process related to local management of on-site sewage systems, utilizing contracts for maintenance providers, and defining adequate repair of an on-site sewage system. He and other EH directors recently wrote a letter to the legislature regarding funding implications. Vicki Kirkpatrick added that there was a bill for a single payer health care system that was now dead. A short discussion ensued on the possibility of a single payer system in Washington State. 3. National Health Reform Update — Washington State and Jefferson County Impacts Dr. Locke spoke about Washington State's experience with healthcare reform in the 1990's and how it led to the collapse of the individual market in Washington State. He also presented information on the number of residents and demographics of those would be affected if Medicaid expansion was repealed. Dr. Locke said there seems to be bipartisan support for Medicaid transformation grants and their funding is not under immediate threat. The Board discussed Medicaid funding, how those with behavioral health issues would be affected, and the philosophical divide between those that support government funded healthcare and those that don't. Kathleen Kler made a motion to send a letter on the impacts to Jefferson county residents should the ACA be repealed and replaced with the American Healthcare Act currently before Congress. The motion was seconded by Jill Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. The Board agreed to send the letter to Representative McMorris Rodgers, with copies to Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Derek Kilmer with copies to our State legislators. ACTIVITY UPDATE Vicki Kirkpatrick announced that Public Health Week starts on April 3 d. The deadline for nominations for Public Health Heroes is March 29, 2017. There are six categories for nominations and the recipients will be invited to the BOH meeting in April. Kate Dean thanked Jefferson Healthcare for supporting a mindfulness program that was initiated by a local mother who lost her son to suicide. The training will be conducted the weekend of March 1 Srn PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. 3 AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Public Health Heroes will be awarded at next month's BOH meeting. Catharine Robinson and Kathleen Kler will not be at the April meeting. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on April 20, 2017 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Robinson adjourned the March 16, 2017 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:10 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH K. � Kate De Me r Da ullMember Catharine Robin n Chair Excuse John Au in, Vice -Chair 11 Buhler, Mber (A—, & t"w _ S eila Westerman, Member Kathleen Kler, Member Respectfully submitted Jenny Matter .0