Board of Health

Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2008

12:00 Noon
Rice Conference Room

Present:	Dr. Francis Fox; Mr. Brooke Greenhouse; Dr. James Macmillan; Mr. Michael McLaughlin, Jr.; Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker, President; Mr. Greg Stevenson; and Dr. William Tyler
Staff:	Mrs. Liz Cameron, Director of Environmental Health; Mrs. Alice Cole, Public Health Director; Brenda Grinnell Crosby, Public Health Administrator; Dr. William Klepack, Medical Director; and Mrs. Patty Stamm, Administrative Assistant
Excused:	Mr. Frank Proto; Mrs. Sylvia Allinger, Director of CSCN; Mrs. Sigrid Connors, Director of Patient Services; and Mr. Jonathan Wood, County Attorney
Guests:	Theresa Lyczko, Director, Health Promotion Program; Steven Kern, Sr. Public Health Sanitarian; Carol Chase, Sr. Public Health Sanitarian; and Sharon Kellogg, RN, Cayuga Medical Center

 

Dr. Snedeker called the regular meeting of the Board of Health to order at 12:02 P.M.

Mrs. Cole introduced Sharon Kellogg who was a guest observer.  Ms. Kellogg explained that she currently works in the Operating Room at Cayuga Medical Center, along with working towards her BSN.  She added one of the requirements of her Policy and Politics course is to observe an organizational meeting noting the interaction between committee members and the process of how decisions are made. 

Approval of Minutes: 

Dr. Tyler moved to accept the minutes of the September 09, 2008 meeting as written, seconded by Dr. Macmillan, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

Financial Summary:

Mrs. Grinnell Crosby distributed the September 2008 Financial Summary.  She added they are currently through 75% of the year, although some expenses will show as being ahead of or behind this time, dependent on the billing cycle. 
            Mrs. Grinnell Crosby stated she and Mrs. Cole have issued a memo to the Division Managers allowing for emergency or essential spending only. 
            Some current areas of concern in the Division for Community Health include:

• STD Program which has seen a fairly large increase due to the Syphilis cases earlier in the year and the increase in testing.
• Due to the VNS situation there has been a significant increase in rehab expenses and other Home Care expenses. 
• Last year the State Health Department mandated that a Clinic Cost Report be filed, which cost an additional $6,000 that had not been budgeted. 

      Other areas of concern include:

• Salaries are currently being evaluated since there is an extra payroll this year which may not have been accounted for in the salary schedule.
• Increase in fuel costs for vehicles, as well as the mileage that may need to paid out.
• Increased auto maintenance costs for the fleet of vehicles.  Mrs. Grinnell Crosby stated five Ford Focus vehicles have been ordered to replace five of the 10 Jeep Liberties.  In the current 2009 budget, they have proposed to get rid of the other five Jeep Liberties using rollover funds.  This should help on fuel consumption, as well as auto maintenance costs.

Mrs. Grinnell Crosby commented that Home Care revenue is doing very well and was at about 82% for the year in September.
      Mrs. Grinnell Crosby also stated so far they had only been notified of one grant for the 6% reduction from the State, the Drinking Water Grant, which has taken a total of $13,002 in cuts in the ’08-’09 fiscal year.  She added Mrs. Cole has heard that all of the grants will be impacted by the 6% reduction from the State.  She further stated that so far in the 2008 and some of the 2009 budget the Health Department’s total reductions are $44,190 in cuts, as well as about $5,000 in cuts in mandated revenue streams.

Administration Report:

Mrs. Cole reported:

• She recently attended the Annual Public Health Director’s Conference in Albany where the budget staff for the State Health Department said that they had to submit three different scenarios in preparation for the next State budget: a 10% reduction, a 20% reduction, and a 30% reduction.  Attendees were told all grants will take the 6% reduction.  Mrs. Cole added Albany is having a difficult time working though all of this, so it’s taking a long time for this information to filter down.  Unfortunately, the year is ending and there is not much opportunity to deal with these reductions. 
• Mrs. Cole stated, per the request of Board members, the vacancy for the Board of Health slot has been advertised.  This was done by Marcia Lynch, the County Public Information Officer.  So far, two applications have been received; one was an old application the Legislature Office had on file, and the other was a new person who came forward as a result of the advertisement. 

Medical Director’s Report: 

Dr. Klepack briefly discussed the October 7th meeting at Cayuga Medical Center regarding pandemic influenza planning and coordination.  Those at the meeting included members of the Health Department, Cornell Gannett Clinic, Ithaca College Hammond Health Center, and Cayuga Medical Center.  Dr. Klepack felt perhaps there was a role the Health Department might play in communicating with private practitioners giving them some sense of what resources would be available for patients to be seen in the community, how they might approach triaging patients within their own offices, as well as preparing for shortages of their own employees in a pandemic flu situation.  He also felt that a further update in terms of what would be available in terms of mitigating medications for dealing with a pandemic flu situation might be provided.  Dr. Klepack added that there are other various targeted efforts by each of the groups before meeting again in December.  A lively discussion amongst staff and Board members followed Dr. Klepack’s comments. 

Division for Community Health:

In Mrs. Connors’ absence, Ms. Lyczko reported:  

• The Health Department will offer 11 public flu clinics in Tompkins County this year.  Appointments can be made on-line at the website or by calling the Health Department during business hours at 274-6609. 
• VFC vaccine for children will be available by appointment only.
• Flu shots are offered to individuals ages 19 and older.  The cost for a flu shot is $35; pneumonia shots are $50 (for ages 65 and older). 

Children with Special Care Needs:

In Mrs. Allinger’s absence, Mrs. Cole offered to answer any questions Board members might have.

County Attorney’s Report:  

Since Mr. Wood was excused from today’s meeting, there was no report. 

Environmental Health Report:

Regarding the Drinking Water Grant, Mrs. Cameron stated that in addition to the lab sampling, personnel trainings, and office supplies that will no longer be covered by the Drinking Water Grant, vehicles, car repairs, and computer equipment were previously obtained using grant funds. 
            Mrs. Cameron also reported that their Engineer is out indefinitely so services, i.e. plan approvals, etc. are moving slowly as they try to compensate for the lack of Engineering staff.

 
Approvals and Actions

Patient Fall Assessment and Documentation Policy and Procedure:

Mr. Greenhouse moved to accept the policy as written, seconded by Dr. Macmillan.
            Board members suggested several edits and changes to the Patient Fall Assessment and Documentation Policy and Procedure which will be incorporated into the next provisional draft.  Since Mrs. Connors was not at today’s meeting, Mrs. Cole will meet with Mrs. Connors to discuss concerns and recommended edits. 
            Mr. Greenhouse withdrew his motion pending more clarification of the policy and procedure.

Kenneth Hohwald, Operator, Glenwood Pines – T-Ulysses – GWUDI Time Table of Compliance: 

Mr. Greenhouse moved to approve the GWUDI Time Table of Compliance as written, seconded by Dr. Tyler, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.

Rolland D. Lee, Manager, Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant – Late Fee Waiver Request:

Mrs. Cole reported that Mr. Lee had contacted Carol Chase stating that due to an illness he had difficulties getting his payment in for his food service application.  He contacted Mrs. Cole asking that his late penalty fee be waived and Mrs. Cole told him he needed to come before the Board and make a request.
            Mrs. Cole commented that the Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant has been in business for a while and they know food service applications are due annually.
            Mr. Greenhouse moved that the Board respectfully decline to waive the late fee request, seconded by Mr. Stevenson, and carried unanimously.

Dr. Snedeker reminded everyone that due to the Veteran’s Day holiday, the November Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th.  He requested that if anyone had a conflict with this date, they let Mrs. Stamm know as soon as possible.      

Adjournment:

At 12:56 Dr. Fox moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Stevenson; carried unanimously.