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Home My WebLink AboutM121720is Hea MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Regular Meeting, December 17, 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 December 17, 2020 virtual meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 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, Water Quality Manager Michael Dawson and Environmental Health Specialist III Linda Atkins. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Westerman requested a motion to approve the agenda for December 17, 2020. Member Brotherton moved to approve the agenda. Member Adams seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Westerman requested approval of the minutes for November 19, 2020. Member Dean moved to approve the minutes as presented. Member Brotherton seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Member Kolff gave the Jefferson Healthcare Report. He stated the following: First, some non-COVID great news: We are preparing to welcome our 2' full time dentist, Dr. Isabel Liendo-Lira into the community December 28, 2020. She and her spouse plan to take a week or two to settle and then she will join Pavel Vasilyuk, DDS at the dental clinic in early January. We have met several times with our legislative delegation urging them to protect the adult dental Medicaid benefit, which the Health Care Authority proposed eliminating earlier in the year. Washington state's revenue projection has improved since then, but we still plan to be vocal about the importance of this benefit as 80-85% of our patients are Medicaid. Preserving this benefit is an important part of our 2021 advocacy plan. Then, some COVID great news: We are excited to have been selected as one of the first sites in Washington to receive our initial allotment of the vaccine. This week we began Phase I of our vaccination plan. We received 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Tuesday morning and began vaccinating Jefferson Healthcare front line providers Wednesday. In addition to Jefferson Healthcare front line providers and employees, we have compiled a list of non -Jefferson Healthcare providers, community first responders, and long-term care staff and residents eligible for the initial round of vaccinations. We are reaching out to them to begin scheduling appointments. Vaccinations will be available at a drive thru vaccination center located in the 915 Sheridan Street medical office building parking lot. We expect another delivery of 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the next week or so and will likely use that shipment for the second dose, for the first round of vaccination recipients. We also hope to have Modema vaccine available next week. We will establish multiple vaccination stations when more vaccine is available and more residents become eligible, based on the three phase prioritization criteria established by the Center for Disease Control/Department of Health. We've been planning extensively for this work and Dr. Locke participated in a 3-hour table top planning exercise last Friday. He worked closely with Dr. Mattern to help refine the patient prioritization approach and other vaccination program details. Yesterday we launched our community wide vaccination awareness campaign to help educate our community on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. We hope you all got the informative email that was sent out to thousands of people in the community. We could not do the work we do without the tireless professional help of Dr. Locke and our model partnership with this Public health Department. And finally, my usual reminder: The hospital continues to provide healthcare without endangering the health of patients or staff. We urge everyone to please get the care you need. 2. Jefferson County Public Health Program Reports Staff Member Kirkpatrick gave a presentation on the 2020 Program Highlights outlining the work and accomplishments of the Jefferson County Public Health Department. NEW BUSINESS 1. Olympic Community of Health Update Celeste Schoenthaler and Amy Brandt Olympic Community of Health staff members gave a presentation describing their organization, successes, current projects they are working on and future goals. 2. Resolution to Waive Late fees for Food Service Establishment Permits for the Duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency The Board discussed a proposed resolution that would waive the late fee on Food Service Establishment permits from February 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021. Revisions to the resolution were proposed to change the late fee from $56.00 to $57.00 and to correct the spelling of Member Kolff s name. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to adopt the Resolution with amendment to the fee and spelling to his name. Member Brotherton seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Page 2 of 3 3. Policy Discussion on holding Tanks for On -site Sewage Staff Member Mingo and Atkins presented information on a proposed policy regarding Holding Tanks for On -site Sewage followed by discussion. 4. Priorities for Administration of Newly Licensed COVID-19 Vaccines Dr. Locke reported on both the Modema and Pfizer vaccines, availability and priority of administration for Jefferson County. 5. Pandemic Update: New Quarantine Guidelines, and Holiday Recommendations re: Testing, Travel and Gatherings Dr. Locke discussed quarantine guidelines for Jefferson County and holiday travel. He reported that the County did not see a spike in cases after Thanksgiving but warned about the Christmas holiday due to the increase in travel and family gatherings. He cautioned the County residents to stay home and celebrate with members of their own households to get through this holiday period without causing a new surge. ACTIVITY UPDATE There were no activity update reports from the Board. There was no agenda planning. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a virtual meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair Sheila Westerman adjourned the December 17, 2020 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:31 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Sheila Weste an, hair rUU- lr Pamela Ad ns, Vice Chair IV David Sullivan, Member Denis Stearns, Mem er KateD_eankl Member Greg Brotherton, Member Kees Kolff, Memb r J P Respectfully submitted K. Abbott Page 3 of 3