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Home My WebLink About012022M BOH 47 deffeirson Public Healt MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Regular Meeting, January 20, 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 Dean called the January 20, 2022 virtual meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 p.m. A.quorum was present. Members Present: Chair Kate Dean, Members Greg Brotherton, Heidi Eisenhour, Kees Kolff, Denis Stearns and Sheila Westerman. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr.Allison Berry, Michael Dawson,Alisa Hasbrouck,Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Dean requested a motion to approve the agenda for January 20,2022. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the agenda as amended. Member Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Amendment to agenda: Election of new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the Board of Health. MOTION: Following discussion, Member Westerman proposed the following slate of officers for 2022; Member Stearns seconded the motion: Chairperson: Member Greg Brotherton Vice Chairperson: Member Kees Kolff With no alternate proposal,the election of new officers passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 4 G.Gilbert APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Dean requested approval of the minutes for the December 16,2021 Regular Meeting. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the minutes.Member Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. PUBLIC COMMENT Member Dean 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: • Comment regarding six Washington counties,with low vaccination rates and no dining restrictions,having fewer infections and hospitalizations than counties with dining restrictions. Therefore, it is time to discontinue dining restrictions in Jefferson County. • Comment expressing concern in regards to a scheduled potential super-spreader event planned by Washington State Parks Commission to be held in Jefferson County. Board members and staff addressed comments and concerns raised during the Public Comment Period as well as addressed written comments received. Notably,concerning the comparison of county COVID statistics,it was pointed out that counties may"peak" in infections/hospitalizations at different times. The counties mentioned tended to be counties with more sparse, smaller populations. These counties(i)may peak more slowly; (ii)it is more difficult to gather meaningful data from smaller populations; and(iii)the state dashboard and some counties' statistics reflect where patients were hospitalized,not where infected(patients from smaller counties may be hospitalized in larger counties with more sophisticated medical facilities). OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare Update Dr.Kolff reported that the hospital is once again struggling with too many patients with COVID-19 and too few staff. Many employees are in quarantine for positive tests or significant contacts,which increases the stress on those needing to cover for absences. He also reported that the board is working with the book Governance as Leadership, in which the concept of Generative Thinking is presented as a way for boards to go beyond their fiduciary and strategic planning responsibilities and think creatively about future challenges and opportunities. Member Stearns asked if it was standard practice to ask patients to get a COVID test before making an appointment, since he had heard of that happening. The answer was no;Denis and Kees will follow up to make sure that isn't a problem. 2. Jefferson County Public Health Program Reports Staff member Martine's address included: the effort being made by Public Health to support its staff, in addition to the public; the planned Public Health staff retreat(focusing on(i)motivational interviewing and(ii)the science of hope)will be postponed due to the COVID surge; Public Health is focusing on improved communication(internal and external); Public Health has exhausted its supply of COVID test kits; recent successful launch of the Breastfeeding Peer Counselling program; the Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs program expanding access to services for families with autistic children; the Nurse Family Partnership has expanded into Clallam County. Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 4 G.Gilbert Staff member Mingo informed the Board of a potential Board of Health Hearing. The parties are in settlement negotiations,and if parties cannot mutually agree to a settlement,we will need to have a hearing by Feb 3rd,unless the party agrees to a continuance until the Feb 17,2022 BOH meeting. NEW BUSINESS 1. COVID-19 Pandemic Update: Omicron Surge,Testing Shortages and Healthcare Strain(Dr.Berry) Jefferson County is likely approaching its Omicron peak. Healthcare capacity—other hospitals are unable to accept more complex cases. EMS is overtaxed, sometimes being held up waiting for emergency room admission. Jefferson County is nowhere near the"crisis standard of care"(requiring healthcare workers to come back early following illness). There is a shortage of testing supplies and a shortage of treatments—prioritization of most vulnerable patients is necessary. Recommendation—in the absence of rapid testing, individuals who feel sick should stay home(preferably 5 days). The drive-thru for testing at Jefferson Healthcare is still available,but results take longer. Statistics still indicate that vaccination prevents disease or severe disease. Discussion ensued. 2. Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP): proposal for BoH oversight(Lori Fleming,Apple Martine). [Postponed until a later meeting.] 3. Update on reorganization of the Board of Health membership(Kate Dean,Dr.Berry). New state rules for board reorganization, still in the draft stage,will require changes to board representation. American Indian Health Commission is responsible for tribal representation. Member Dean summarized the draft rules,which must be implemented by July 2022. Discussion ensued. A new subcommittee was proposed to delineate a process for new members and draft new by-laws. Chair Brotherton offered to serve. 4. Discussion of public comment protocols(Kate Dean). Member Dean opened a discussion concerning ways to make public comment most effective. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Board of Health reorganization. Public comment reconsideration. Re-signing of policy re: closure of public events during episodes of poor air quality Climate crisis: it was suggested that this subject be tabled for several months until members/staff have more capacity to do research. 2 The next Board of Health meeting will be held online as a virtual meeting on Thursday,February 17,2022 from 2:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted Page 3 of 4 G.Gilbert ADJOURNMENT Member Dean adjourned the January 20,2022 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:31 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. - J FF SO COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH L/ Greg Brotherton, Chair Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted Page 4 of 4 G.Gilbert