Island County Board of Health

Regular Meeting

Monday, November 19, 2001

Members Present: Commissioners William F. Thorn, Mike Shelton, Mac McDowell; Barbara Saugen, WGH Commissioner; Captain Donald Jensen, MC, USN (Ex-Officio Member); Roger S. Case, MD, (Ex-Officio Member) Executive Secretary, Board of Health.

Absent. Oak Harbor Mayor Patricia Cohen

Chairman William F. Thorn called this regularly scheduled meeting of the Island County Board of Health to order at 5:00 p.m.

Addition to the Agenda: Tim McDonald requested that the Board appoint a member of the Board to the CHAB interview team.

Minutes: Commissioner Mike Shelton moved that the minutes from the October 15, 2001 meeting be approved as written. Commissioner Barbara Saugen seconded. The minutes were approved for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

Public Input: There was no input from the public.

Advisory Reports:

Opportunity Council: Lisa Clark, local manager of O.C., started by noting that O.C. Emergency Services funding this year is being drastically cut. Last year about 2000 families applied for assistance, and they were able to help 705 families; this year they will have enough funding to help only 465 families. Lisa then introduced Dave Cusick to give an update on the Opportunity Council’s Weatherization Rehab Program. David is primarily responsible for indoor air quality evaluation, especially for the following issues:

David has had training in EPA lead paint assessment. He noted that in 1978 lead was banned from the paint of private homes, but that it is still an issue in many home environment evaluations. David discussed several of the O.C.’s Rehab Program support activities, and answered questions from Board members and the audience.

IC-SPH&S Network: Kathleen McLaughlin presented a handout on the Washington State Survey of Adolescent Health Behaviors. She outlined the risk factors and the comparisons between the 1998 and 2000 surveys (see attachment) on the following issues:

Perceived availability of handguns; favorable attitudes towards antisocial behavior; early initiation of problem behaviors; academic failure (40 % of all students failing at least one subject per the survey); little commitment to school; community opportunities for positive involvement; rewards for positive involvement; school opportunities for positive involvement; school rewards for positive involvement; child protective services; and division of child and family services data

Risk Factors were determined in the following basic categories:

Kathleen noted that one particularly good statistic was that teen pregnancy rates are going down. Commissioner Mike Shelton then commented that "the WA State Survey of Adolescent Health Behaviors report is not particularly good reading. Somehow, the community needs to better address youth issues because if the present services go away for lack of funding, the problems still exist… and the trends aren’t good."

Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB): Marshall Bronson began his report by commending the numerous volunteers assisting local government and community service agencies, noting that he sees the same people working on a variety of the community’s governing and advisory boards… and that perhaps ‘burn-out’ may become an issue. He then made the following comments:

There was a discussion regarding the focus of CHAB. Carrie McLachlan said that CHAB is basing this 2nd round of assessments on a more science-based approach in order to avoid the more emotionally-based imperatives identified in the first round of assessments. CHAB volunteers are presently examining information gleaned from a variety of information sources including the recent BRFSS, census 2000, and other available surveys. Tim McDonald, Health Services Director, reiterated that the various communities of the county are addressing different facets of the last assessment process. The identified ‘community imperatives’ are being effected at differing rates depending on the particular community’s initiative, resolve and resources. However, the CHAB has an ongoing responsibility to continue the cycle of community assessment, policy development and assurance.

The Commissioners expressed concern about the majority of CHAB’s efforts being assessment, with the minority being implementing. Mr. McDonald called the Board’s attention to the fact that the Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP) awarded initial funding to focus on assessment, and that the promised follow-on funding to complete the Plan was not forthcoming. "We have to go with what we have". It was further noted that CHAB is not tasked with implementation, but with community assessment, facilitation of community resources around the identified issues of concern, and assurance/outcome (some of which may take years to measure). While youth is still a major issue, CHAB must continue its cycle of tasks if it is to properly fulfill its function to stay atop the many issues considered important by the community.

Commissioner Shelton commented that government entities always find it easier to ‘plan’ than to ‘solve’, and voiced concern that funding for assessments be geared toward youth since the Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Survey indicated the need exists. Commissioner Thorn noted that there were several other areas of concern within the communities of Island County, and encouraged CHAB to continue its present course of activities.

Contracts:

  1. Commissioner Shelton moved that the Collaboration for Children Child Care Consultation Program-The Opportunity Council Contract No. HD-11-00(1) for $19,700 be approved. Commissioner McDowell seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.
  2. Commissioner Shelton moved that the Environmental Health-Building Environmental Health Capacity in State & Local Departments-Department of Health & Human Services-CDC#U38/CCU020426-01 Contract No. HD-13-01 for $175,000 be approved. Commissioner Saugen seconded. A brief discussion followed. Commissioner Thorn requested Health Department to sit in on the meeting of 11/21/2001 at 9:00am. The motion then passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the board.
  3. Commissioner Shelton moved that the Oral Health Dental Consultant-Mary Jane Lungren, DDS Contract No. HD-06-01(1) for $14,000 be approved. Commissioner McDowell seconded. The motion passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

Administration:

Health Services Director, Tim McDonald presented Resolution HD-14-01, In the Matter of Revision of the Environmental Health Service Fee Schedule of the Island County Health Department. Following a lengthy discussion, Commissioner Shelton moved that Resolution HD-14-01 be approved. Commissioner Barbara Saugen seconded. Commissioner McDowell opposed. The Resolution passed for the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board.

Report from the Health Department:

Health Services Director, Tim McDonald reminded the Board that following the resignation of Holly Schoenknecht from the Board of Health, there was/is a vacancy on the CHAB Candidate Interview Committee. He stated that a member of the Board is needed as replacement. Barbara Saugen, Hospital Commissioner, stated that she would consider it but that she would like more information regarding the position. She will confer further with Mr. McDonald.

There being no further business, Commissioner Thorn adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. The Board of health will reconvene Monday, December 17, 2001 at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted: Roger S. Case, MD, Executive Secretary to the Board

Minutes approved this 17th day of December 2001.

ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

William F. Thorn, Chairman