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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 December 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 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: City of Port Townsend Representative: Karen Chang Cynthia Howarth, Director Environmental Health Kathy Stafford, Administrator (Vacant) Director of Nursing J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. Health Officer B. G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C4 Brown, Member MINUTES: DECEMBER 20, 1988 Cynthia Howarth, Environmental Health Director; Kathy Stafford, Administra- tor; Dr. Geerlofs, Health Officer; and Linda Atkins, Solid Waste Enforcement, were present when Chairman B. G. Brown called the meeting to order. Commissioner George Brown and Commissioner Larry Dennison were also present. City Representative Karen Chang was not present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the minutes of the November 15, 1988 meeting as read. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. ADMINISTRATORS REPORT, Hiring Director of Nursing Services: Helen Mackley has been hired as the Director of Nursing Services and will begin work at the first of the year, Kathy Stafford reported. Contract for Services with the Brinnon School District: Kathy Stafford reported that the contract with the Brinnon School District for Health Department services is ready to be approved by the County Commissioners. NURSES REPORT: The monthly statistics for nursing services were presented by Kathy Stafford. She reported that AIDS training sessions are scheduled and are being presented as a cooperative effort between Jefferson Health Board Meeting Minutes: December 20, 1988 Page: 2 General Hospi tal, the Health Department and Kai Tai Nursing Home. The sessions will be held on the 20th of January and will be open to the public. The public will be charged $25 for the four hour course and $40 for the seven hour course. Employees of the three sponsoring organizations will not be charged. Dr. Geerlofs explained that federal law states that all people who receive a license to work with the public in some way, i.e. barbers, doctors, nurses, funeral directors, and EMT's, are required to have this AIDS training. This training will be offered three more times during the year. The Health Department will be developing protocol for mandatory AIDS testing for people convicted of certain crimes, Kathy Stafford added. Once the protocol is approved, the Health Department will meet with the Judges and the Sheriff to plan implementation of this program. The State laboratory will process the tests for the County free of charge. The discussion turned to the new federal law regarding AIDS and AIDS testing. Kathy Stafford suggested that the Health Department advertise that the AIDS test is available at the Health Department and is given free of charge. Pre and post test counselling is also provided. ElfVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Statistics on phone calls, and complaints will be provided again next month, Cynthia Howarth reported. Cape George Community Meeting: A community meeting is being arranged in the Cape George area with the help of the Manager of Cape George Colony. The Health Department will talk about identifying failing on-site septic systems, the problems of on-site septic systems in the Cape George area, and how building in the Cape George area will be affected in the future, etc. Solid Waste Issues: Complaints are being received by the Department on a regular basis about several property owners in the County who have unsightly messes on their property. These messes do not pose a health hazard, but area unsightly can upset a whole neighborhood. Since these complaints are about problems on private property a policy needs to be set to advise the public about the County's position regarding this type of problem. Cynthia Howarth advised that solid waste dumping needs to be discussed further so that policy can be set within the regulations. Chairman Brown stated that a nuisance ordinance could be considered, but enforcement then becomes the problem. Linda Atkins asked if there is any mechanism to aid a community in any efforts that they may make toward a clean up project on a problem site? The discussion continued about the limitations of the County in dealing with solid waste dumping on private property. Environmental Health Responsibilities: Dr. Geerlofs asked where the dividing line is between what the Public Works Department does with solid waste and what the Health Department is required to do with regard to solid waste? Commissioner Dennison reported that the Public Works department deals with handling of solid waste at the landfill. Cynthia Howarth stated that she feels that the Health Department should have a larger role in dealing with Health Board Meeting Minutes: December 20, 1988 Page: 3 solid waste issues and planning for handling hazardous solid waste in the County. Commissioner Dennison added that this whole issue should be discussed at the next staff strategy meeting between the Health, Public Works and the Planning Departments. Sludqe: Cynthia Howarth reported that there is a new high pressure pump that can be used to apply sludge to forests. She added that she will be reviewing the process for sludge application permits and the fees charged by the County for handling sludge and make recommendations for changes in the future. PUD Contract; Mr. Samples Alternative On-Site Septic Svstem: The maintenance contract for the Sample's alternative on site septic system was signed by the Prosecuting Attorney yesterday, Cynthia Howarth reported. Request for Extended Office Hours: Kathy Stafford reported that many contractors would like the Health Department to be open more hours so that when they are ready to call for an inspection, they can do so first thing in the morning and not have to wait around a phone until the office opens. The Department has purchased an answering machine and it will be installed and working after the first of the year. It is hoped that this will help solve the problem for these contractors. Variances: Dr. Geerlofs proposed that a policy be developed that when variances that are very straight forward be approved or denied by the Department staff and the Health Officer. The only time a variance request would be brought to the Health Board for approval is if it is a complicated or controversial variance request. The Board concurred that this would help handle these items more efficiently. Health Board Meetinq Dates in January and February 1989: The meeting dates for the Health Board will be changed to January 18 and February 22, 1989 due to Monday holidays during these months. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH B. G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member