Minutes

North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors
Full Association Meeting

September 16 , 2003

Adams Mark Hotel and Convention Center
Winston-Salem, NC

Call to Order

President-elect Mimi Cooper welcomed the members of the association and guests to the September 16th meeting at 1:30 pm. A quorum was identified; therefore the meeting proceeded as a full association meeting. (See attachment for attendance roster)

Fellowship

David Rice provided the fellowship.

Approval of the Minutes

The minutes of the August meeting were posted on the web site, ncalhd.org, and approved as posted.

Treasurer's Report

Secretary Elaine Russell presented the Treasurer’s report with balances as of August 27, 2003. Account balances were as follows:

• Checking: $23,439.09
• Savings: $36.56
• Money Market: $365.54
• CD: $40,000.00

State Health Director's Report--Dr. Leah Devlin

Leah provided an update on the NC Public Health Task Force 2004. The document “Charges to the Task Force Committees” was distributed. The Task Force will have six subcommittees: Accreditation, Structure & Organization, Finance, Workforce Development, Planning & Outcomes, and Accountability. The full Task Force will meet four times prior to the May 15, 2004 final report to the NC General Assembly. The meetings are scheduled for September 29th, November 19th, February 25th, and April 20th. Leah thanked everyone for the efforts toward the success of the Task Force. (See attachments) She also acknowledged the good work in further reducing infant mortality and increased immunization rates. Further discussion of the Immunization Registry revealed that future funding will be 50/50, not 90/10 as currently supported with federal and state dollars. As an update to the Family Planning Waiver, Leah noted that the request was sitting with the federal decision makers again.

Epidemiology--Steve Cline

Steve provided an overview of the preparations for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Isabel. The statewide conference call was a successful means for updating all agencies on the state of preparedness. The CDC will be present for a post-hurricane rapid needs assessment. (See attachment) Steve also discussed the upcoming Attorney General’s Summit on Methamphetamine Abuse. The environmental risk factors and extensive contamination issues are emerging concerns for local public health. Attendance at the Summit is by invitation. He also provided an update on Year 04 of the federal bioterrrorism funding. Funding allocations to counties should increase significantly this year. A baseline allocation in addition to a population/square miles formula will determine the funding for each county.

Local Support--Joy Reed

Joy provided an update on the Stokes County situation. A plan has been drafted that identifies private sector providers will to contract to handle Family Planning services for clients younger than 18 years of age. Hopefully all concerned parties will sign-off on the plan in the coming weeks. Stokes County Health Department faces a significant rehiring situation. Joy also provided an update on HSIS. Current problems with RA’s should be brought to the attention of Ann Nance. MMIS is not the problem in this situation. With regard to Medicaid rate setting at DMA, staff turnover has created the loss of historical memory. Thus many rate decisions have to be reconstructed for the current staff. The current Health Behavior and Intervention rate is valid. Joy closed with an update on the State Lab processing fee. Paying clients will have the fee billed to the Health Department, but it is subject to the sliding fee scale. Medicaid clients will not have the fee charged to the agency.

Executive Director--Deb Rowe

Deb provided an overview of the conference and the pending schedule changes due to the inclement weather. In closing she thanked everyone for the continued support and understanding with the status of NCPHA.

Committee Reports (action items)

Environmental Health -- David Rust

Motion: The $50,000 reduction in Aid to County funds will be shared equally with each county accepting a $500 reduction. The motion was approved with 2 dissenting votes noted.

Nomination and By-Laws -- Wayne Raynor

Motion: The slate of officers for 2004 is: Past President Jim Baluss (Edgecombe Co.), President Mimi Cooper (Randolph Co.), President Elect Don Yousey (Brunswick Co.), Vice President Elaine Russell (Cherokee Co.), and Secretary Treasurer Wanda Sandele (Craven Co.). Regional Representatives and Alternates for 2-year terms starting in 2004: Region II Doug Urland with alternate Tom Bridges; Region IV Barry Blick with alternate Leonard Wood; Region VI Jim Roosen with alternate Robert Wittman; Region VIII George O’Daniel with alternate Myra Johnson; and Region X Jenny Lassiter with alternate Wanda Sandele. The motion was unanimously supported.

Policy and Planning -- Mimi Cooper

Motion: The draft template in support of long-range planning will be supported with the removal of question #10, which relates to consultant utilization. The motion was supported unanimously.

Motion: The charges to the NC Public Health Task Force 2004 are adopted as presented. The motion was supported unanimously.

Committee Reports (information items)

State and Local -- Don Yousey

Don reported that he had not been able to attend this month’s DSS Personnel Committee meeting due to a conflict with a meeting he had with his County Commissioners. However, he noted that he had submitted his ideas on needed changes and that he was watching to see how the suggestions went over with the Personnel Rewrite Task Force. He closed by stating that he still hoped to preserve local employee protections under the State Personnel Act intact as they were in the old Act and would keep the Association apprised of nay developments either way.

Epidemiology -- Doug Urland for John Morrow

Doug provided an arboviral update. The use of private labs is creating a problem of false positives; please encourage the private sector to use the State Lab for testing purposes. HAN is a necessary tool for remaining up-to-date on the status of arboviral infection in NC. With regard to smallpox vaccination participation, the state ranks 8th in the nation with 1,293 persons vaccinated. Statewide bioterrorism exercises will be occurring October – December and will explore surveillance/disease investigation, Strategic National Stockpile and Quarantine/Isolation. In closing Doug noted the concern over Pap smear costs with the State Lab. If Health Departments turn to private lab utilization, then the State Lab may have to cease provision of the service. In making private labs the only provider, cost may ultimately increase. (See attachment).

Environmental Health -- David Rust

The NCAC .1942 Soil Wetness Conditions Rule was changed due to a recent loss in Administrative Hearing Court. As a result, determination of approvable conditions should be revisited by staff. A stakeholders meeting is forthcoming. David also addressed the issued of arsenic levels in wells. The current standard is 50 ppb, however the Public Water Supply has adopted the federal standard of 10 ppb. This is creating remediation situations throughout the state. Ken Rudo is the contact person for these situations. In closing David noted that the Division has offered to replace, free of charge, any supply of grade cards that do not cite Leah Devlin as State Health Director. (See attachments)

The Alliance -- Barry Bass

Due to a recent auto accident involving the Alliance Director, the paperwork and several checks for transactions were interrupted. This was an unfortunate consequence of a serious accident scene where gathering scattered papers was not the priority. Hopefully, the subsequent delays and problems have been resolved from this situation. As of October a late penalty of 1 _ % will be charged on late payments made to the Alliance. In closing Barry noted the Alliance was 1 member short of its 36-member goal.

Liaison Reports

UNC-SPH -- Penny Whiteside

Penny noted the upcoming schedule for Grand Rounds and the various topics to be addressed. The BOH Training schedule can be obtained from their office. (See attachments)

Adjournment

With no further business, the motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved unanimously at 4:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

J. Elaine Russell, MPH
Secretary-Treasurer