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HomeMy WebLinkAbout021722M BOH �eefison Public Hetit MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Regular Meeting, February 17, 2022, 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Virtual Meeting Board Members Staff Members Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Denise Banker,Community Health Director Kate Dean,Chair,County Commissioner District#1 Dr. Allison Berry,Health Officer Heidi Eisenhour,County Commissioner,District#2 Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Alisa Hasbrouck,Environmental Health Manager Denis Stearns,Vice Chair,Citizen at large Apple Martine,Public Health Director Libby Wennstrom,Port Townsend City Council Pinky Mingo,Environmental Public Health Director Sheila Westerman,Citizen at large Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director Chair Brotherton called the February 17, 2022 virtual meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:32 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Chair Greg Brotherton, Members Kate Dean, Heidi Eisenhour, Kees Kolff, and Libby Wennstrom. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Michael Dawson, Alisa Hasbrouck,Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw. Chair Brotherton introduced new Board Member Libby Wennstrom,representing Port Townsend City Council, attending her first meeting. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Brotherton requested a motion to approve the agenda for February 17, 2022. Amendment to agenda: Member Kate Dean requested that Reorganization of the Board of Health be added as an additional agenda item as Old Business. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the agenda as amended. Member Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Brotherton requested approval of the minutes for the January 20, 2022 Regular Meeting. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the minutes.Member Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 3 G.Gilbert PUBLIC COMMENT Member Brotherton called for public comment. The following is a summary of comments made virtually by individuals in attendance at the meeting and reflect their personal opinions: • The opioid crisis: caller would like to see more discussion and resources concerning the opioid crisis in the state and in this community. There is a failure to address the problem. • Recent statements by Dr. Berry: caller stated that Dr. Berry misstates data from COVID clinical trials,and that she makes"anti-parent"statements in regards to school masking requirements. • Vaccine efficacy: caller brought up CDC website-published data to indicate effectiveness of COVID vaccines. Board members and staff addressed comments and concerns raised during the Public Comment Period. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Board Member Kolff provided information on efforts:to improve Health Equity in our community;the COVID caseload at the hospital; and progress in the master plan for hospital infrastructure. 2. Jefferson County Public Health Program Reports Staff member Martine's reported on Public Health activity related to COVID and the Omicron surge: contract tracing, providing self-testing,mass vaccinations and starting to provide routine vaccinations at the clinic. Staff member Linda Atkins described progress of the onboarding of the Energov software package, scheduled to be live by the end of June 2022. 3. Update on Reorganization of the Board of Health Member Dean announced a June deadline for reorganizing the Board,though the state has not finalized rules for reorganization. A May hearing may be required to air a new ordinance re reorganization. A subcommittee was formed to draft revised By-laws for review before the next monthly meeting. Volunteers for the subcommittee are Staff member Martine,Dr.Berry, and Board member Dean;Board member Stearns was nominated in his absence. NEW BUSINESS 1. COVID-19 Pandemic Update: Proof of vaccination order,masking requirements and trajectory of the pandemic(Dr.Berry) Dr.Berry reported a drop in COVID cases and predicted a continued downward trend,provided mitigation measures continue. Mask mandates will expire in Washington on March 23 (with exceptions); Port Townsend's proof of vaccination mandate will be relaxed on March 11. Discussion ensued. 2. Community Health Improvement Plan(CHIP): proposal for BoH oversight [Moved to following"Nurse Family Partnership"] 3. Nurse-Family Partnership: Partnering to help families thrive: An Update on Nurse-Family Partnership in Jefferson County(Matthew Richardson, Sarah Jane,Apple Martine). Mr. Richardson described the mission and benefits of state-supported Nurse Family Partnership programs, supporting first-time mothers with nurses providing home visitation services. Staff member Jane provided background of NFP's Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 3 G.Gilbert in Jefferson and neighboring counties, and provided more detail about NFP activities. Staff member Martine amplified the benefits of the program. Discussion ensued. 2. Community Health Improvement Plan(CHIP): proposal for BoH oversight(Lori Fleming,Apple Martine). Staff member Fleming presented a slideshow describing CHIP, its benefit to the community,and its current goals. Staff member Martine presented a Resolution describing the support requested from the Boll. Discussion ensued. MOTION: Member Kolff moved that [the Board] adopt the Resolution of the Jefferson County Board of Health regarding assumption of the oversite of the Community Health Improvement Plan partnership. Member Eisenhour seconded the motion,which carried by a unanimous vote. 4. Well Construction Inspection Program Policy—Update(Susan Porto). Staff member Porto introduced policy revisions being made to the drinking water program. The two new policies will be ready for review prior to the March meeting. 5. Wildfire Smoke Policy—signing(Pinky Mingo). Staff member Mingo stated the need for re-signing the previously approved policy. ACTIVITY UPDATE Staff member Hasbrouck announced a tire recycling event, scheduled for March 5,2022. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Potable water discussion next month. At some point,post-pandemic, discussion of climate crisis and a proposed resolution. Revising the restructuring of the Board of Health. Bylaws will be drafted by the sub-committee prior to next month's meeting. The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a virtual meeting on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 2:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair Brotherton adjourned the February 17,2022 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:31 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFERS COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Greg Br , Glenn Gilbert,Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted Page 3 of 3 G.Gilbert L__