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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM061820 410 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES June 18, 2020 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Staff Members Pamela Adams,Vice Chair,Port Townsend City Council Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Vicki Kirkpatrick,Public Health Director Kate Dean,County Commissioner District#1 Thomas Locke,Health Officer Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Apple Martine,Community Health Director Denis Stearns,Citizen at large Pinky Mingo,Environmental Public Health Director David Sullivan,County Commissioner,District#2 Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director Sheila Westerman,Chair,Citizen at large Chair Sheila Westerman called the June 18, 2020 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Pamela Adams, Greg Brotherton, Kate Dean, Kees Kolff, Denis Stearns, David Sullivan, Sheila Westerman • Staff Present: Sara Groth, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Thomas Locke, Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Sheila Westerman asked for approval of the agenda for June 18, 2020. Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, asked if the Commissioners would like to include camping as a Phase 3 variance agenda item. Denis Steams made a motion to add a Masking Directive discussion to the agenda, then later withdrew. Member Greg Brotherton motioned to add camping under New Business. The motion was seconded by Kees Kolff. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Member Kees Kolff motioned to approve the agenda as amended. Motion failed for lack of a second. Member Denis Stearns motioned to combine the discussion of the Masking Directive with the discussion of the Variance. Motion was seconded by Member Kees Kolff. Member Denis Stearns withdrew the motion. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Sheila Westerman asked for approval of the minutes for May 14, 2020 and May 21, 2020. • Page 1 of 5 • Member Kees Kolff motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Pamela Adams. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Member Kees Kolff said 1) racial equity and social justice work will be integrated into the employee education curriculum, health equity committee, population health, and advocacy platform at JHC, 2) a new initiative titled Everyone Deserves Food has been implemented to provide those in need with food, 3) the nurse consult line is active and open, 4) midwives and doulas will be allowed in labor and delivery, 4) surgery cases have increased, 5) there is concern people are delaying the health care they need due to COVID, and 6) Mike Glenn, CEO, has prepared a letter in support of transitioning to phase 3. 2. Jefferson County Health Officer Masking Directive and FAQ Press Release Dr. Locke reviewed the masking directive and shared some of the comments he has received. He said there is more evidence supporting masking as an effective strategy to prevent spread by collecting aerosols and droplets, especially in large groups or during super spreader events. Dr. Locke also said mask wearing is showing an upward trend locally and commented on enforcement possibilities. The Board discussed enforcing the masking directive at length. • NEW BUSINESS 1. Racism as a Public Health Crisis Dr. Locke said Jefferson County Public Health is working on a resolution in support of Black Lives Matter and recognizes that there needs to be a fundamental change in policy to have a lasting effect. The Board discussed resolutions by other institutions, past meetings regarding racism, institutional racism in Jefferson County, understanding internal biases, and creating a culture of equity. The Board expressed their commitment to continue to discuss and address racism as a public health crisis. 2. Health Officer Recommendations Re: Variance Request to Move from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of Safe Start Washington Plan Dr. Locke said Jefferson County has a relatively low number of diagnosed cases of COVID. The goal for phase 3 is to have less than 8 cases every two weeks and Jefferson County currently has 1 case per week. However, there is an increase in Eastern Washington and cases will continue to increase overall. The Board discussed risks of both staying at phase 2 and moving to phase 3. Some of the items discussed included economic impacts to local families and businesses, gatherings of 50 people, camping, enforcement of the mask directive in food service establishments, opening gyms, and childcare. The Board also thanked the residents of Jefferson County for their commitment to keeping rates low. • Page 2 of 5 Member Denis Stearns motioned (#1) to direct Dr. Locke to issue an amended directive to require all food service establishments to enforce a masking requirement. Discussion ensued regarding the authority of the Health Officer. Member Denis Stearns withdrew his motion (#1). Vice Chair Pamela Adams motioned (#2) for the Jefferson County Board of Health to move forward with a full phase 3 variance application with the following restriction: The date of specific opening would comply with the date of Clallam County's phase 3 opening and with the following addition that camping would be allowed in Jefferson County regardless of what Clallam County does. The motion was seconded by Member Kees Kolff. Discussion ensued regarding alignment with other counties. Vice Chair Pamela Adams moved to amend the motion (#3) so the Jefferson County Board of Health would move forward with a full phase 3 variance application with the restriction that it becomes in force on July 6, 2020. Camping would open immediately. The motion was seconded by Member Kees Kolff. Vote taken to pass the amendment: 4 in favor, 3 opposed. The motion passed (#3). Discussion ensued regarding opening early than July 6, 2020. Vote taken: 3 in favor, 4 opposed. The motion failed (#2). Member Kees Kolff motioned (#4) to allow camping immediately and move to phase 3 unrestricted as soon as allowed to do so by the State. The motion was seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. Discussion ensued regarding camping. Vote taken: 3 in favor, 4 opposed. The motion failed (#4). Member Greg Brotherton (#5) motioned to direct Dr. Locke to work with all expediency with the Chief Civil DPA of Jefferson County to work out an effective enforcement backbone to the masking directive in food service establishments. Friendly amendment (#6) requested by Member Denis Stearns to direct Dr. Locke to issue a revised directive saying he is requiring enforcement and work with the Chief Civil DPA of Jefferson County to reverse engineer any necessary additional legal enforcement. Discussion ensued regarding enforcement of the masking directive. Member Denis Stearns withdrew his friendly amendment (#6). The motion was seconded by Member Kees Kolff. Vote taken: 6 in favor, 1 opposed. The motion passed (#5). Member Greg Brotherton motioned (#7) to move into phase 3 as soon as possible and open camping immediately. The motion was seconded by Member Kate Dean. Discussion ensued regarding dates of approval. Member David Sullivan motioned (#8) to amend the motion so phase 3 would open on July 6, 2020. Motion to amend failed for lack of second (#8). Motion failed for lack of vote (#7). Member Kees Kolff motioned (#9) to accept Dr. Locke's recommendation to go unrestricted into phase 3 immediately and allow camping immediately. The motion was seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. Vote taken: 3 in favor, 4 opposed. The motion failed (#9). Member Denis Stearns moved (#10) to adopt Dr. Locke's recommendation to move to Phase 3 including opening camping immediately, contingent on Dr. Locke's agreement or we direct Dr. Locke to issue an amended FAQ consistent with the directive already issued that stated enforcement is mandatory and work with the Chief Civil DPA of Jefferson County to come up with additional means of enforcement to bring back to the next Board of Health meeting. Friendly amendment (#11) requested by Member Greg Brotherton so food service businesses would be included as they • Page 3 of 5 • are the only businesses Jefferson County Public Health has jurisdiction over. Member Denis Stearns accepted the friendly amendment (#11). Member Kees Kolff seconded the amended motion. Discussion ensued regarding the intent of the amended motion. Member Denis Stearns withdrew his motion (#10). Member Kate Dean motioned (#12) to authorize Public Health to submit the application to move to phase 3 to the State Department of Health on June 29,2020 and open camping immediately. The motion was seconded by Member Kees Kolff. Discussion ensued regarding estimates approval dates, opening bars and tourism impacts. Vote on the motion: The motion carried by a unanimous vote (#12). Dr. Locke clarified the motion to pursue food service enforcement of the masking directive. 3. Draft Jefferson County Board of Health Variance Plan Request Dr. Locke said the application for the variance is mostly complete and will be submitted on June 29, 2020 if affirmed by the BOCC. Once the variance is approved by the State, it will take effect. The Board discussed the approved resolution. 4. Camping As moved earlier(#12), camping will open immediately. 411 ACTIVITY UPDATE Environmental Public Health Programs Update Pinky Mingo, Interim Environmental Public Health Director, said a Board of Health policy will be presented at the next meeting for approval to extend on-site sewage permits until June 2021 due to the backlog caused by the COVID pandemic. Ms. Mingo also said JCPH has partnered with the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce in the Jefferson CARES Project. Sara Groth, Environmental Health Specialist, has been spearheading the project, including making presentations to the industry sector and training volunteers. Currently there are about 120 pledges. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The Board agreed to add racism as a public health issue to the agenda for the next meeting. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a GoToMeeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020 from 2:30—4:30 p.m. • Page 4 of 5 • ADJOURNMENT Chair Sheila Westerman adjourned the June 18, 2020 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 5:21 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ii-11111)04-6110/. / // 4,,dvpittbitimear Sheila Westerman,PPDdbIØiiii ( Kate Dean, Member 410P(Olted4k10164( 41Vbrd 1 l' 401 / // Pamela Adams, Vice Chair Greg Brotherton, ember id &OA rcjea( I1' / 'i ant r avid Sullivan, Member ees Kolff, Mem i er .tfI iiiied1 hone Denis Stearns, Me ber Respectfully submitted J. Matter • Page 5 of 5