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Home My WebLink AboutM102121 elrCison Public HgarAt MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Regular Meeting, October 21, 2021, 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Virtual Meeting Board Members Staff Members Pamela Adams,Port Townsend City Council Denise Banker,Community Health Director Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Allison Berry,Health Officer Kate Dean,Chair,County Commissioner District#1 Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager Heidi Eisenhour,County Commissioner,District#2 Alisa Hasbrouck,Environmental Health Manager Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Apple Martine, Public Health Director Denis Stearns,Vice Chair,Citizen at large Pinky Mingo,Environmental Public Health Director Sheila Westerman,Citizen at large Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director Chair Dean called the October 21,2021 virtual meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Chair Kate Dean,Vice Chair Denis Stearns, Members Pamela Adams, Greg Brotherton, Heidi Eisenhour, Kees Kolff and Sheila Westerman. Staff Present: Staff members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Michael Dawson,Alisa Hasbrouck,Apple Martine and Pinky Mingo APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Dean requested a motion to approve the agenda for October 21, 2021. Chair Dean requested to add to the agenda a discussion of the Community Health Improvement Program. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the agenda as modified. The motion was seconded by Member Brotherton. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Dean requested approval of the minutes for the September 16,2021 Regular Meeting. Member Brotherton suggested that, in future minutes, all board members be referred to as"Member", aside from "Chair Dean,"and that all "Staff members"be referred to as such(with no other titles used). MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Member Adams. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 3 G.Gilbert PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Dean called for public comment. Amanda Funaro,CEO of Good Man Sanitation,advocated for the board to reach up to the state representatives concerning the lack of capacity for septage. A long-term plan is necessary for disposal of Jefferson County's septic waste. Stephen Schumacher queried the future of vaccination mandates for restaurants. Kincaid Gould posed a series of questions for response by Dr. Berry,concerning(1)the number of vaccinations required to prevent a single cases of COVID;(2)masking efficacy,(3)whether a determination can or has been made about which of the available vaccines is the most effective; (4)whether complete data is being provided re COVID vaccinations,infections and deaths;(5)whether any long-terms studies have provided data about vaccine side effects; and(6)whether Cominarty vaccine is available in Jefferson County. Joe Kunzler spoke in support of Dr.Berry and the Board of Health,but questioned some apparent disparity on the Jefferson County website concerning dates of Dr. Berry's health orders. Discussion followed,particularly concerning the threshold for rescinding the mask mandate for restaurants. Dr. Berry responded to Mr. Gould's questions,emphasizing the complexity of reviewing medical literature on-line,the effectiveness of masking(impressive outcomes for very little effort),the distinctive though rare side-effects of the different vaccines and their relative effectiveness; she also stated that long-term side-effects come from drugs taken over extended times(not the case of the COVID vaccines)or from live-virus vaccines(which the COVID vaccines are not),and that the COVID vaccines have no genetic effects. Dr. Be also discussed the historyand benefits of theposition of health officer beingshared by Clallam and Jefferson Berry counties. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Member Kolff expressed concern for the well-being of Jefferson County healthcare professionals. He also discussed the planned expansion of the Jefferson Healthcare campus. 2. Jefferson County Public Health Program Reports New Public Health Director Apple Martine discussed staff changes at Public Health and listed positions to be filled. She also introduced Denise Banker as the new Community Health Director. NEW BUSINESS 1. COVID-19 Pandemic Update Dr. Berry described the calculation of statistics and"meaningful data"in regards to COVID cases,particularly with respect to a small community. Some increase in cases is expected due to increased travel, gathering and the presence of out-of-state visitors. There have been clusters of infections within a long-term care facility,a business and a school. The increase of pediatric infections which affects much of the country has not been seen in Jefferson or Clallam Counties. 70%of the county is fully-vaccinated(80%of eligible individuals are vaccinated);the rate is lower for children. Vaccination availability for younger children is anticipated within weeks. Boosters were discussed. Flu shots were recommended. Dr.Berry mentioned a recent State Board of Health complaint concerning claimed overstepping of the County Health Officer's authority. This complaint was rejected by the State Board of Health. This led to an explanation of the authority,responsibilities and obligations of the County Health Officer. Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 3 G.Gilbert Discussion followed. 2. Climate Change&Public Health The Climate Action Committee(Cindy Jayne)presented a slideshow highlighting strategies for reducing emissions and the reasons such changes are considered vital and urgent. Discussion followed. 3. Environmental Health: Jefferson County is running out of capacity for disposing septage waste Staff member Hasbrouck presented a slideshow concerning the county's lack of sufficient capacity for treating its septage,the different kinds of septage which require different treatments, and possible measures for ameliorating the situation. Discussion followed. 4. Community Health Improvement Plan(CHIP) [added] Chair Dean introduced the subject, largely to take a temperature whether there was interest in pursuing the continuance of CHIP under the oversight of the Board of Health with representation of city,county,Public Health,and Public Hospital District. ACTIVITY UPDATE AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Member Kolff raised the question of how the meeting agenda is created. Discussion ensued concerning possible alterations of the agenda planning process. Member Kolff proposed having Laura Tucker return to a future meeting to inform the board's discussion of climate change. Member Eisenhour proposed continuing the discussion of septage at a future meeting. The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a virtual meeting on Thursday,November 18,2021 from 2:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair Dean adjourned the October 21,2021 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:38 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFERSON OUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH C Kate Dean, hair Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted Page 3 of 3 G.Gilbert