Minutes Archive

Board of Health Minutes

Calhoun County Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 15, 2005

ATTENDANCE

Board of Health	Health Department
Larry Anderson	Ginger Hentz
Jean Cook-Hughes	Kathy Ferguson
Byron McDonald	Brigette Reichenbaugh
Ben Miller
Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell
George Perrett (via Phone)

Calhoun County	Absent
Nancy Mullett	Kenneth Ponds (excused)
Greg Purcell

Mr. Anderson called the meeting called to order at 8:00 a.m.

Motion for approval of the agenda. Dr. Mitchell moved. Ms. Cook-Hughes supported. All in favor.

Motion for approval of the consent agenda. Dr. Mitchell moved. Ms. Cook-Hughes supported. All in favor.

Finance Officer’s Report

Ms. Ferguson summarized the following:

July financial statements.
Resolution 35-2005: Comprehensive Planning, Budgeting, and Contracting Agreement (CPBC) Amendment #4. The big difference is hearing and vision. Motion for approval of Resolution 35. Dr. Mitchell moved. Ms. Cook-Hughes supported. Mr. McDonald asked that a summary of Hearing and Vision program data be presented at the next Board of Health meeting. All in favor.
Resolution 36-2005: CPBC for 2005/2006. Financially shows a decrease of $70,000 the majority of which is in Local Public Health operations. That is basically eliminating vision and hearing. The tobacco reduction program was eliminated. We will try to reallocate staff prior to layoff. Larry motioned for approval Dr. Mitchell moved. Ms. Cook-Hughes supported. All in favor.
Resolution 37-2005: FY 2005/2006 budget. A three percent (3%) cost of living increase in Environmental Health fees is included. This was determined at the July 22, 2005 budget meeting as a discussion item not as a deciding factor. Elimination of the lead hazard reduction funding will result in a layoff of one employee. Very hard for County to cover the 2.5% pay increase. In Administration: There is $9,000 from the Health Plan that agreed to pay an annual portion of finance officer salaries -- Mr. Latham’s ($6,000) and Ms. Ferguson’s ($3,000) -- for financial services rather than hiring a separate accounting firm.

This budget will be presented to the Board of Commissioners on September 1, 2005. Motion for approval. Mr. Miller supported. Ms. Cook-Hughes supported. Four in favor. Mr. Miller opposed.

Interim Health Officer Report

Since the July Board of Health meeting, Priscilla Barnes, Health Partnership (HP) Director, resigned. She will be taking a position with NACCHO in Washington. Ms. Hentz will meet with the Council of Advisors co-chairs this week to discuss next steps for the HP. Mr. Anderson noted that Priscilla did a great job of raising the issue of disparities in Calhoun County. William Burton, HCAP Director, tendered his resignation on Friday, August 12, 2005; his last day is September 15, 2005. He is pursuing other interests. Ms. Hentz has been in touch with Commissioner Segal and will provide information to the Health Plan Board regarding William’s replacement. Hentz noted that both staff have made great contributions to public health and will be missed.

Health Officer Search Committee Update

Mr. Anderson thanked Dr. Mitchell and the Health Officer Search Committee for their help with the search process. Dr. Mitchell summarized the process and provided a handout that outlined the characteristics of each of the two final candidates. The committee recommends Dottie-Kay Bowersox as Health Officer.

Dr. Harrington reported on his encounter with the two candidates. He asked each candidate how they would handle both clinics (Family Planning and Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Prevention) financially. Ms. Bowersox answered immediately that she would cancel both clinics. Mr. Thoune asked various questions some of which Dr. Harrington could not answer. He answered that he would immediately build a coalition of community partners. Harrington noted that Ms. Bowersox was not interested in the community approach. Harrington felt that Ms. Bowersox would not take “no” for an answer. The question must be asked if the BOH wants to drastically change the existing culture.

Mr. McDonald noted that the Board should be able to ask questions of both candidates. Mr. Anderson explained that the search committee makes the recommendation and the Board of Health may approve the recommendation. Mr. McDonald noted the he would not vote on the candidates until the Board has a chance to speak with both candidates. Mr. McDonald noted that he would not support cutting services in Albion and Marshall.

Dr. Mitchell responded that Mr. Thoune is very conservative and will move in the direction we move now. Ms. Bowersox was seen as a person who will make changes, waves, and think outside of the box. Ms. Cook-Hughes responded that she asked the question if the two candidates would be here today. The County responded that we can’t afford it. Dr. Mitchell responded that the committee was given the charge by the Board of Health to make a recommendation. The committee fulfilled its work.

Mr. Purcell thanked Dr. Mitchell and the search committee for their work. He stated that he has seen some personnel issues that have recently come out – such as an employee that wanted reimbursement for being upgraded to first class and staff asking if attending a conference reception is paid time. These kinds of things may warrant change. Mr. Purcell said the health department staff, people who attended the reception for the candidates.

Mr. Anderson stated that we have a well functioning Health Department. The focus should be on community health improvement as we have a county in the bottom third of health indicators.

Mr. Miller said he thinks both candidates are qualified. We need to ask why is it that there is a fundamental significant deviation from the selection committee and the employees? Other questions to ask are what kind of change are we looking for: financial, personnel, program, or health indicators? Do we have a candidate that is more viable or more appropriate for our current structure? Mr. Miller said that these two candidates are not acceptable and suggests we “punt” and reopen and repost the position to a wider audience. Both candidates are welcome to apply again. Mr. Purcell cautioned against that due to Ottawa County’s search for a Health Officer being a source of competition for candidates.

Mr. McDonald indicated that the quality of resumes received could be better (of the nine qualified candidates). He does not want to take a mistake. He would like to reopen.

Mr. Miller noted that the responsibility of this Department and this Board is dealing with health issues not technological issues when there is no money. By in large the summation is we should go with the candidate that the committee has not selected. If there are significant problems within the Health Department why are we not addressing these problems now? Mr. Miller said if the recommendation of the committee comes to the Commission, he will block it and recommend that the position is reopened. He is close to recommending the dissolution of the Board of Health.

Mr. McDonald motioned that we turn down both candidates and repost for a 45 day period. Mr. Miller seconded. Clerk roll call: Cook-Hughes: No; McDonald: Yes; Miller: Yes; Mitchell: No; Anderson: No.

Ms. Cook-Hughes asked for clarification. It sounds like that whatever the BOH decides today, that Mr. Miller will recommend to the County Commission that they decline both candidates. She said the Search Committee has brought their recommendation to the Board and should be acted upon. Dr. Mitchell formally moves the recommendation of the search committee be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Miller seconded. Mr. Miller requested roll call. Roll Call: Anderson: Yes; Cook-Hughes: Yes; McDonald: No; Miller: No; Mitchell: Yes. Motion carries.

Mr. Purcell suggested that before it goes to the Commissioners both candidates should be spoken to about the split vote on the Board of Health. Mr. Purcell will take the responsibility of contacting both candidates and let them know about the benefits package and salary.

Ms. Mullett asked for clarification. If Bowersox does not accept, what is the next step? The Search Committee recommends both candidates; if she does not accept, the search committee will recommend Thoune.

For the record, Mr. McDonald noted that he will work with County Commissioners to turn down the search committee recommendation.

Mr. Anderson reminded the Board that a retreat is scheduled for September 14th.

Motion for adjournment. Ms. Cook-Hughes moved. Dr. Mitchell seconded.

Meeting adjourned 9:53 a.m.

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