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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385.0722 HEALTH BOARD Minutes: May 15, 1990 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B. G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member (Position Vacant) Director Environmental Health Kathy Stafford, Administrator Irene Senior Pomeroy, Director Nu.rsing Ser'vices .J. Peter Geerlofs, M. D., Health Officer CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Sheila Westerman The meeting was called to order at the appointed time by Chairman B. G. Brown. The following Board and staff members were present: Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and Commissioner George C, Brown; Kathy Stafford, Administrator; Irene Senior Pomeroy, Director of Nursing; Nancy Gow, Nurse Practitioner; and Envi.ronmental Health Specialists Linda Atkins and Celia Kadushin. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Larry Dennison moved to approve the Minutes of April 17, 1990 as presented. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Health Board Minutes: May 15, 1990 Page~ 2 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT Irene Senior-Pomeroy; Letter of Resiqnation: Irene Senior-Pomeroy presented an official letter of resignation from her position as Director of Nursing Services. The Board accepted her resignation which becomes effective on June 15, 1990. Appointment of Actinll Director of Hursinll Services; Nancy Gow: On the recommendation of Kathy Stafford and Irene Senior- Pomeroy, Commissioner George Brown moved that Nancy Gow be offered the position of Acting Director of Nursing for a period of one year, Commissioner Dennison seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Environmental Health Director; Salary: Kathy Stafford requested clarification as to whether the salary offered for this position, which has been temporarily removed from the salary system, includes cost of living raises at the same rate as the rest of the staff or if this contract is negotiable at the time of bargaining, The Board concurred that the Environmental Heal th Director will need to renegotiate the salary as the position will be considered mid management. ~ Community Health Forum: Kathy Stafford reported that 21 people attended the two hour forum and that the State issued $860 in funding for the event. Budllet Extensions and Transfers: Kathy Stafford reported on the extensions and transfers turned in to the Board of Commissioners. These requests have the full support of the Health Officer, Dr. Geerlofs, Some of the requested extensions involve anditional positions which were explained to the Health Board. Primary Care Dental Proqram: Kathy Stafford distributed copies of the second letter of appreciation she has received on the Dental Program. The responses have been favorable and the results of the program appear to be beneficial to those who receive the services. Health Board Minutes: May 15, 1990 Page: 3 DIRECTOR OF NURSING REPORT Russian Families: Irene Senior Pomeroy reported that the County is now providing Health Department services for seven Soviet families for a total of 35 refugees, These families are refugees, not immigrants, which means they do not go through the screening provided by the Federal Government. They usually escape through Rome and are sponsored by a church group. The level of service is impacting the resources available with unexpected burdens. Additional resources have not been found to alleviate the impact of the needs on nurses; staff{ and funding. Educational and health materials printed in Russian haven't been located r and the two interpreters in our area have not been available for all of the appointments, It was noted that other counties are having similar problems and have had to provide the needed services from the resources they clJ.rrently have. No ou.tside funding for refugee aid has been located. The Board concurred that the impacts on time and services need to be monitored and further resources sought to mfnimize the burden on the County Health Department. It was suggested that the documentation gathered regarding these impacts could be presented to the Department of Social and Health Services in an effort to secure additional funding for these needs. Assianment Sheets; PaDer on Priorities and Recommendations; Handbook for Nursina Division: Irene Senior- Pomeroy assured the Board that the services and activities in the nursing division are going on smoothly: and that all the spots are filled. Assignment sheets, which explain duties, have been signed by employees. She reported that before she leaves she will present a paper on priori ties and recommendations, and a handbook she developed for the nursing division which contains reference to all the programs. She suggested that this handbook be revised on a yearly basis. She is working on a breakdown of the clinic procedure format~ Maternity Leave: Irene Dimitroff will be replacing an She wjll begin on May 16; 1990. SeninY'-Pnmprnv rpnnrt"pd t-hriT 'Karpn ~ ~ ~ - - -.. -.- - - - - -- - - - - - employee taking maternity leave. Health Board Minutes: May 15, 1990 Page: 4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORT Earth Dav: Linda Atkins reported that Earth Day was a success. The people who participated enjoyed the event and suggested that an annual planting of Rhodies along Rhody Drive be part of ,Jefferson County I s Earth Day act i vi ties on an ongoing basis. All the groups that expressed interest in the planting did participate. The associated events regarding the wetlands, construction project, and the photo contest were also well attended and received. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Dav Event: Linda Atkins reported that she attended a preliminary meeting for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Kitsap County. An agreement between Kitsap, Clallam, and 3efferson Counties has been signed. Mason County has not signed yet, The grant for this event has been received. The consensus was that a mobile unit will be utilized which will better serve those events that are scheduled for more than one day of collection. The grant will require a local match. Those funds were allocated during the budgeting process. Mandates; Druq Labs (Methamphetaminesl and Health Risks: Linda Atkins reported on the hazardous waste problems found in homes that had been used as drug labs in the manufacture of methamphetamines. She explained that although it is technically the home owners! responsib11ity to insure that a home js free of health hazards before renting it out, the bill mandates that the Health Department monitor and inspect buildings that were identified as being utilized in the production of methamphetamines. There are extreme costs involved in this monitoring as the chemicals utilized in the drug lab do not go away, they permeate the house and enter the porous materials of the structure~ Gases and other toxins create health hazards to subsequent tenants who are generally unaware of the potential hazards. There isn't any funding to offset the cost to the County, As of July 1, 1990 the Heal th Departments will be responsible for being certain that properties involved in a drug bust are free of hazardous waste before tenancy is re-established. Sanitarian Position: Kathy Stafford reported that the advertisements for Sanitarian have not received a good response and other counties are also looking for Sanitarians. If the County can provide a 35 hour work week instead of a 40 hour work week for the current Sanitarian; this person will remain until a replacement can be hired. Since the hourly rate of pay remains the same and the benefit package does not change, the Board concurred that allowing the reduction in work hours was not a problem. Health Board Minutes: May 15, 1990 Page: 5 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORT - continued Request for 50 Foot Variance Between Nell and Drainfield: Celia Kadushin reported that Leonard A. Palmer, A Geologist, would like a 50 foot variance between the well and the drainfield on his Mats Mats Bay property. The variance requested is for 50 feet instead of the 100 feet normally required between the well and the drainfield, She explained that the well is located on an easement and that a mound system is proposed. The engineer from Pac-Tech confirmed that the well is up hill from the mound site and that there isn't any possibility of the water being contaminated by the mound site. Geologically there doesn't appear to be a problem. Mr. Palmer dug holes and confirmed that the water is running down hill. After further discussion, Celia Kadushin also noted that the Health Officer felt there wasn't a problem with the material documentation. Commissioner Larry Dennison moved to approve the 50 foot variance between the well and drainfield on Leonard Palmer's Mats Mats Bay property. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion which passed by a unanimous vote. * * * * * * * The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, June 19, 1990. MEETING ADJOURNED .JEFFEHSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Lfd&~~~v/ B. G. Brown, Chairman $~ . -(" \...Z..-;I~V<~r----/ , e. ison; Member OLK051590