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Home My WebLink AboutM111920MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Regular Meeting, November 19, 2020, 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Virtual Meeting Board Members Pamela Adams, Vice Chair, Port Townsend City Council Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner, District #3 Kate Dean, County Commissioner District #1 Kees Kolff, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner Denis Stearns, Citizen at large David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Sheila Westerman, Chair, Citizen at large Staff Members Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Director Thomas Locke, Health Officer Apple Martine, Community Health Director Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health Director Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director Chair Sheila Westerman called the November 19, 2020 virtual meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Chair Sheila Westerman, Vice -Chair Pamela Adams, Commissioner Greg Brotherton, Commissioner Kate Dean, Commissioner David Sullivan, Member Kees Kolff, and Member Denis Stearns. Staff Present: Public Health Officer Dr. Thomas Locke, Community Health Director Apple Martine, Environmental Public Health & Water Quality Director Pinky Mingo, Director of Jefferson County Public Health Vicki Kirkpatrick, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Philip Hunsucker, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Randon Draper, Code Compliance Coordinator Deborah Murdock, and Water Quality Manager Michael Dawson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Westerman requested a motion to amend the agenda to reflect moving the public hearing, under New Business, to the first agenda item of the meeting for November 19, 2020. Member Dean moved to approve the amended agenda. Member Brotherton seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION Public Hearing re: Proposed Changes to Environmental Public Health Fee Schedule Member Brotherton called the hearing to order. Staff Member Mingo gave a short presentation on the proposed revisions of the compliance code with some brief discussion on the background of the issues and the necessity of these changes. Staff Member Hunsucker provided some clarification on the new policy. Member Brotherton opened the meeting for public testimony. The oral portion of the public testimony was closed and the written testimony was extended to November 20, 2020 by 4:30 p.m. Member Brotherton closed the public hearing. There will be a Joint Special Meeting to discuss further public comments on December 10, 2020. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Westerman requested approval of the minutes for October 15, 2020. Member Dean moved to approve the minutes as presented. Member Adams seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Member Kolff read a letter from Jefferson Healthcare Executive Director Mike Glenn which outlined the many ways they are ready for the COVID-19 pandemic surge of cases that have already started. In particular he stressed the following: "We are collaborating with Dr. Locke and Public Health to plan and (frantically) put together a large scale Covid vaccination delivery system. We are closely monitoring our work force to insulate and protect from occupational exposure and (what we are finding to be much more challenging) non -occupational, community exposure. The two biggest issues for us are communicating to the community the importance of recommitting to all the things we know help curb Covid transmission (masking, social distancing, no travel, no socializing with people outside of your household, etc...). Asa community, we've let our guard down a little and are beginning to pay the price. The second issue is staffing. We have dozens of staff out because of Covid-related issues, (if you are in a risk group, you are eligible to opt out of work) FMLA, childcare complications, possible exposure quarantines and a multitude of other challenges faced by a group of dedicated but tired caregivers. Worse, unlike 7 months ago, there are very few traveling nurses available in the event we need additional staff. Lack of surge staffing bench strength is probably our biggest concern." 2. Jefferson County Public Health Program Reports Dr. Locke explained that this section will now be the placeholder for any health department report and not just Community Health, however there is no report for this month. NEW BUSINESS 2. Revisions to Policy re: Enforcement -Basic Sanitation for Non -Permitted Living Conditions Staff Member Mingo presented a summary of changes made to this policy and reported that comments received from other stakeholders were influential in some of the revisions incorporated into the policy. There was discussion among staff and board members that resulted in more suggested revisions. Member Brotherton suggested adding this item to the agenda for the Special Meeting of December 10, 2020 to review the final draft, and the Board agreed. 3. COVID-19 Pandemic Situation Report: Third Wave Surge in Local, State, and National Cases, Hospital Trends, Holiday and Travel Advisories Dr. Locke gave an update on the worsening COVID-19 conditions locally and nationally. He discussed types of cases, exposures, contact tracing, new travel advisories for Washington State, the strain on our healthcare system and recommendations for the holidays. He followed with a discussion on vaccines and the phases of distribution. There was a brief question and answer and discussion period from the Board members. 4. Environmental Health Policy Statement 4-88 regarding Pit Privies in Jefferson County Member Brotherton discussed repealing Environmental Health Policy Statement 4-88 regarding pit privies. There was discussion by the Board members for and against this repeal issue. It was decided to bring this issue back for discussion at a future meeting. Member Brotherton shared a music video he made regarding pit privies. Member Brotherton motioned to repeal policy 4-88. Motion failed for lack of a second. Page 2 of 3 5. Update on Safe Start WA Program Dr. Locke reported that this program is on hold for now due to increased COVID-19 activity. Member Dean responded to a public comment where the question was asked if any of the Board of Health members were contacting newspapers to suppress publication of free speech critical of government policies? Member Dean responded that she had not done that. Chair Westerman also said she had not either and Member Adams stated that she wouldn't know how to do that. ACTIVITY UPDATE Staff Member Vicki Kirkpatrick gave a very special thank you to all Public Health staff for their dedication and hard work through this pandemic. There was brief discussion and acknowledgement by Board members. Staff Member Mingo reported that due to some of her staff helping with contact tracing, permit processing will be slowed down temporarily. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR • December 10, 2020 Special Meeting 2:30 — 4:30 PM Special Joint Meeting Jefferson County Public Health and Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Virtual Meeting • December 17, 2020 Regular Meeting 2:30-4:30PM Jefferson County Public Health Virtual Meeting NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be a Special Meeting held online as a GoToMeeting on Thursday, December 10, 2020 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair Sheila Westerman adjourned the November 19, 2020 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:48 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Slidila Westerman, Chair T q6n,C4 PlZiv ams, Vice Chair Dvan, er fXeSteams, Meer Kate Dean! Member Member Is Kolff, Member Respectfully submitted K. Abbott Page 3 of 3