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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May r 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 19, 1987 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B.G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member Mary Catlin, D.O.N. and Administrator J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Glenn Ison *********************************************************************** ********************************************************************* Chairman B.G. Brown called the meeting to order with all Board members, staff, and the City Representative present. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The Minutes of the April 21, 1987 meeting were approved as read by motion of Commissioner Larry W. Dennison, seconded by Commissioner George Brown. ADMINISTRATOR/DIRECTOR OF NURSING REPORT: Mary Catlin submitted her monthly written report of nursing service activities and discussed the following: Personnel: The discussion of Nursing staff salaries, and several other personnel matters was scheduled for an executive session later in the day, if time allows. Ordinances: The State requires prior approval of any change in an ordinance (such as the fee schedule) that effects the State contract. The proposed changes to the fee schedule have been submitted to the State for their approval. Health Board Minutes: May 19, 1987 Page: 2 West End Visit: Mary Catlin further reported that she has visited the West End of the County. Clallam County currently provides nursing services to the West End one day per week on a contractual basis. Some of the problems are: In the Queets/Clearwater School which has 40 students - two out of five fifth grader children are sexually active. During the last year, three fifteen year old girls have become pregnant and two twelve year old girls are living with older men. Eight of the eleven eighth grader children smoke, drink and use drugs and it is es- timated that 50% of the children have been physically or sexually abused. The Public Health Nurse was directed to spend more time on teen pregnancy, sex education, and child abuse prevention. There are some funds available from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the school district to provide the necessary programs. Temporary Food Service Establishment Inspections: During the course of the Rhododendron Festival, Francesca Keep, Food Service Inspector, was denied access to a facility for a fOllow-up inspection. She had done an initial inspection and found the establishment out of compliance, and the matter was corrected but, when she attempted to inspect another area she was denied access. Mary Catlin suggested that a letter be written to this organization advising them of the regulations for temporary food service establishments. She would also like to notify other counties of this problem since this organization will be operat- ing all around the state. Glenn Ison suggested that a copy of this letter be sent to the Chamber of Commerce. The Board concurred that these actions be taken. ADMINISTRATOR: The following items were discussed: 1) What the Department can and can not do in the absence of an Environmental Health Director and 2) Line of authority. Mary Catlin then introduced Dr. John A. Beare, State DSHS and Eric Slagle, DSHS Chief, Office of Environmental Health Programs. A memo prepared by Bill Glasser regarding to how various issues will be handled was then reviewed. Chairman B.G. Brown noted that all items noted can be handled through the Health Officer which is cumbersome, but can be done. The possibility of contracting for Environmental Health Specialist services from surrounding counties was explored, Mary Catlin reported. The Environmental Health Specialists in surrounding counties are very busy with their own work and the Counties have expressed concern about their potential liability with regard to such a contract. The Board will check with the County's insurance carrier regarding this liability. The Clallam County contract for environmental health services to the West End is at a rate of $32.00 per hour. The Board will contact Kitsap, Mason and Clallam counties regarding a possible contract for providing environmental health services on a interim basis. Mary Catlin added that another alternative is to contract with Bill Glasser during this interim period until another Director is hired. Steve Rice will be taking the exam for becoming a registered sanitarian in November. She added that it is important that Steve Rice not be Health Board Minutes: May 19, 1987 Page: 3 given the expectation or responsibility of a fully qualified Environ- mental Health Director. Line of Authority: Mary Catlin reminded the Board that her contract states that she has no authority over the environmental health section and she feels that this is an unworkable situation. Chairman B.G. Brown agreed and added that this situation needs to be reviewed. Mary Catlin added that she feels the Health Department needs a separate Administrator who can oversee both sections of the Department. There is a party who is interested in such a position. Issuance of Septic System Permits by Board of Commissioners: Janet Welch, a Registered Sanitarian who works with the water quality program through the Planning and Building Department, received approval from the Board of County Commissioners to issue two septic system repair permits for sites in Quilcene, Mary Catlin reported. She asked if those permits should have been submitted to the Environmental Health Director for approval. Bill Glasser did not think Janet Welch was qualified to do this design work and felt that these permits should have been approved by him. Chairman B.G. Brown reported that these were two septic system repair permits for failing systems. Both of these system repairs were being done with assistance from the County's loan program for system repairs. After discussion of what makes a sanitarian qualified to do work in the State of Washington, Commissioner Dennison noted that it is not a question of qualifications, but one of management policy. Chairman B. G. Brown asked for clarification of the regulations on repairing a failing septic system and the installation of a new system. It was his understanding that more latitude is granted for repair of a failing system because the only other alternative would be to evict the property owner from the property, which is not a good solution to the problem. Eric Slagle, DSHS, stated that within the boundaries of the original permit issuance being valid, repair of a failing system is given more latitude with regard to meeting the design standards because the only other option is to vacate the property. What is being effected by the failing system bears on the determination of whether the system can be repaired or needs to be vacated, and is a judgement call. Dr. Beare added that the other issue in this instance is the management question of who grants the permit approval. The permit is approved by the Board of Health rather than the Board of County Commissioners. Ms. Welch was not a member of the Health Department staff even though she is a Registered Sanitarian, It is inappropriate for her to assume the role of environmental health specialist for the Health Department when she is employed by another county department. It is a technicality, Chairman B.G. Brown added, that these permits were not done in a Health Board meeting. Dr. Beare stated that there is nothing wrong with the Board of Health meeting in the Courthouse on an emergency basis to take action, because that is what is required by the law. Health Board Minutes: May 19, 1987 Page: 4 Chairman B.G. Brown continued that the Board realizes that there are problems with the administration of the Health Department which everyone recognizes and it needs to be addressed. Dr. Beare reiterated that he and Mr. Slagle are not present to find blame, they are present to offer any assistance they can to resolve the problems and lend support to the present Health Department staff. The discussion continued regarding the administration and administra- tive problems of the Health Department. Dr. Geerlofs stated that an issue that comes up repeatedly is the understanding of the role of the Environmental Health Specialist (technical health concerns) versus the role of the Board of Health (political concerns of health issues), and how to strike a balance between the two. Dr. Beare stated that one way to help strike this balance is for the Health Officer, to look at issues, not only from the health standpoint, but also from the Board's perspective in terms of bettering the community and add the needed buffer between these two roles. In other Counties the tendency is, Dr, Beare continued, to appreciate what the law and regulations say, but if a problem can be improved then it should be done if the solution does not create an even greater issue than the original problem. Dr. Beare reiterated that the State staff is available at anytime to help the local departments with some of these problem situations. Eric Slagle added that the State is available to provide management as well as technical assistance to local health departments. They have people who will review programs and program administration, and prepare a report with recommendations. RoV Robeck re: Sewaqe Disposal Permit; Evaluation of Lot 32, Tala Shores #3: Mr. Roy Robeck explained that this platted lot (Lot 32) of Tala Shores Division #3, has a ten foot drainage easement that runs along one side of it. In 1978 this lot was purchased with a conditional approval by the Health Department of an on-site septic system. Another party has now purchased the lot and wish to build on the site. The lot is only 82 feet wide and current regulations require a 75 foot setback from the drainage easement. This essentially makes the lot unbuildable. Mr. Robeck stated that he feels it is feasible to culvert (tight line) the drainage easement which would keep the effluent from mingling with the water. He further stated that he thinks the easement is for a drainage ditch which is maintained by the County, but this has not been verified. There is a question, Chairman B.G.Brown added, of whether the lot would be buildable even if a tight line was installed on the drainage easement because of the location of the adjacent wells and the current lot size requirements, etc.. The questions that needs to be answered by a Sanitarian first, the Chairman continued, is what the drainage setback requirement is and if installation of a tight line would overcome the setback requirement. If so, then an Engineer would have to design a tight line. The Board concurred that they will have a Health Board Minutes: May 19, 1987 Page: 5 registered sanitarian review this request and contact Mr. Robeck with his findings. Criez Alternative Septic Svstem Proposal: (See also Minutes of April 21, 1987 Page 2 and 3) Joe Ladd, Attorney for the Criez's introduced himself to the Board and reviewed what is needed to resolve the issue of the Criez alternative septic system permit approval. Chairman B.G. Brown interjected that the issues that remain unresolved, according to the Minutes of April 21, 1987 are: 1) An official waiver request for the reduction in the setback from the stream to fifty feet, must be submitted to the Health Board and if approved must then be forwarded to the State DSHS for their concur- rence; 2) The Superior Court has ordered that this lot be judged by the standards that were in effect at the time of the original applica- tion; and 3) A contract for performance monitoring services is required by the conditions of the permit. Item #3: Mr. Ladd stated that in reference to this item, Mr. Criez is willing to enter into a performance monitoring contract with the PUD. Item #1: With regard to this item, Dr. Geerlofs added that the seasonal water table test was completed and was satisfactory to allow the setback variance request to be approved by the County and forwarded on to the State. Mr. Ladd said that his understanding is that Randy Durant and Dave Lenning, from DSHS, inspected the site and Mr. Lenning gave oral State approval of the setback variance. Item #3: The court remanded this case back to the Board of Health for another review, Mr. Ladd explained, because the taped minutes of the meeting were inaudible. This case is still pending in the Superior Court. Mr. Ladd reported that he suggested to the Prosecuting Attor- ney, John Raymond, that since the Criez's are the ones who would complain about any action taken on this permit by the Board, the best course of action would be to negotiate a settlement of the court case which would state that the permit be granted. The lawsuit would then be dismissed. Mr. Raymond indicated to Mr. Ladd that that was agree- able with him and he should have communicated that to the Board. After further discussion of the intent of the Court and any possible liability the County would have if the court case is settled and there was a system failed in the future, the Board concurred that they would need to have an opinion in writing from the Prosecuting Attorney regarding the settlement of this case. Chairman B.G. Brown added that there should be no need for Mr. Criez, Mr. Ladd or Mr. Hanburg to come before the Board again. It will just be a matter of the Board receiv- ing the written statement from the Prosecuting Attorney, taking the necessary action and notifying Mr. Criez. Commissioner Dennison moved to approve the setback variance from the stream as requested by Mr, Criez. Commissioner George Brown seconded the motion. This request will now be forwarded to the State DSHS for their review and concurrence. Health Board Minutes: May 19, 1987 Page: 6 PERSONNEL ISSUES: The personnel needs of the department were then discussed with those present including Dr. Beare and Eric Slagle. Dr. Beare reviewed how other small counties handle the administration responsibilities of the department. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ~ B. G. Brown, Chairman 'e/~4-n'-.../ son, Commissioner ~-L (l/~ George . Brown, Member