Board of Health
Meeting Minutes for February 6, 2012

** NOT APPROVED **


The following board members were in attendance:  Dr. Joseph Felsen, Timothy LaFever, Dr. Willard Simons, Dr. Leo Cusumano, and Douglas Burdick.

Medical Advisor Dr. Christopher was present.

Others Present:  Lori Ballengee, Tom Hull, Laurie Hennessy, Theresa Moore, and Kim  Shaklee.

The Board of Health meeting was called to order by Public Health Director Lori Ballengee at 7:03pm.

Theresa Moore gave a power point presentation regarding sugar sweetened beverages.  She gave this presentation for the New York State Healthy Heart grant through Cornell Cooperative Extension.  Her presentation brought to the forefront the unhealthy consumption of sugar sweetened beverages by consumers and how it contributes to obesity and other health related diseases.  Theresa asked the board members to let her know if they would like this presentation given to any groups, businesses, and PTA or school meetings to let her know.  Theresa asked the Board of Health to think about adopting a policy at the County level in regards to sugar sweetened beverages. 

The board members and staff introduced themselves to our guest Mr. Kim Shaklee. 

Lori gave a reminder to the board members to complete their in-service and turn it in to Janet.

Janet will email the in-service to each board member.

Tom Hull, Deputy Public Health Director, gave an overview of the general guidance and rationale on sampling water wells for possible contaminants associated with oil and gas extraction activities.  This information had been distributed to the board members at the last board meeting in December for their review.  Tom stressed to the board members this guidance is a recommendation only.  Doug Burdick made a motion to formally adopt this “General Guidance and Rationale on Well Water Monitoring in Advance of Natural Gas and Oil Resource Extraction.”  This motion was seconded by Dr. Felsen.  Motion Carried.

Tom Hull announced to the board members the Health Department has contracted with Ronald Truax as our new Hearing officer.

Lori Ballengee reviewed her budgetary concerns in regards to the fees charged for permits.  The Health Department has not raised their fees in approximately eight years.   The Health Department wants to be in line with surrounding Health Departments and raise the permit fees accordingly.  The Health Department began last year inspecting tanning beds and vending machines and these fees are adding revenue for the Health Department.  The Health Department is looking at raising the sliding fee scale to bring fees in line for 2012. 

Laurie Hennessy, Director of Patient  Services, noted when they receive high risk birth certificates a nurse schedules an appointment with the parents and go out and do baby checks and answer questions

for the new mom and dad.  When auditing these charts Laurie noted WIC was not offered to the parents.

 

Ten charts in the Immunization program were audited and more documentation needs to be done

to document missed immunizations. 

 

The Health Department has one latent TB case.  There have been fewer cases since physicians have been asked to follow the TB cases. 

 

There have been three confirmed cases of H-Flu meningitis over the border.  All three children were from a non-vaccinated group. 

There was a chickenpox outbreak.  NYS Health Department has different guidelines than the CDC.

One Pertussis case has been reported in Allegany County.    There are three confirmed chronic Hepatitis

C cases.

 

In the Family Planning program 40 (forty) charts were audited.  Laurie revised the forms for family planning to make them more comprehensive.

 

Laurie reported the Health Department is actively looking for a nurse practitioner.

The Health Department received a CAPP grant through ACCORD to serve 17-21 year olds.  The Family Planning program is adding evening clinics to the program.

 

A new family planning sliding fee scale had been created.  The board members were asked to review the sliding fee scale and a request was made to approve the sliding fee scale.  A motion was made by Dr. Felsen to approve the sliding fee scale for 2012 for Family Planning.  This motion was seconded by Dr. Simons.  Motion carried.

 

An organizational chart was disseminated to the board members for their review.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Tim LaFever and seconded by Doug Burdick.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:43pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Norris