BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES

North Haven, CT

December 10, 2009

4:30 PM

Attendance: A. McClure; D. Cofrancesco; J. Donaldson; A. Levison; B. Scott; P. Marone; V. Masi; A. Sofair; M. Rochow; L. Haddad; S. Faris; L. Balch, ex officio; D. Culligan, staff.

Not in attendance: L. DeNegre; J. Sabshin; C. Goldberg; T. Gersdorf.

President McClure called the meeting to order at 4:35pm and declared a quorum. She reported that she was contacted by Carolyn Wysocki, from the State Association of Local Boards of Health. This association offers information, advocacy training and other support to local boards of health. Ms. Wysocki has requested a letter of support from the QVHD Board for CT for a grant to establish a State organization in partnership with CPHA. Discussion followed. Board members would like additional information from Ms. Wysocki. L. Balch will contact her on behalf of the QVHD Board to request more information.  

MINUTES: The minutes from the September meeting were accepted unanimously, motion by B. Scott, seconded by V. Masi, with the friendly amendment that Bessie Scoot presented the slate on behalf of L. Haddad, Chair of the nominating committee.

FINANCIAL REPORT: L. Balch reported that while the revenue and expense appear to be in line with the 5-month target, grant amounts have changed, grant funds have not yet been received and therefore are not allocated, and new revenue funds for H1N1 administration are not yet reflected in this report. Adjustments will be reflected in the January 2010 financial report.

Changes include:

·         State per capital grant funded at $1.85 vs $1.22 (Total = $178,464)

·         Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) referred to as BT, grant at $65,089 vs $58,000

·         Additional H1N1 Pandemic Flu planning grant (Phase I) of $47,222

·         H1N1 administration fee of $15.00/vaccine received for administration (approximately $106,000.00 invoiced to date). May be decreased by doses not administered at end of campaign

The increased PHEP and pan flu funding is allocated to cover current staffing levels with Health Ed (D. Culligan) funded 100% by PHEP, L. Fox (Environmental Health) funded by PHEP and per capita at about 50% each, and Environmental health food service and septic programs 100% funded by per capita.

            H1N1 administration funds will be tracked as Medical/Biological Program revenue and expenses, the same as past seasonal flu costs and payments. Funds are being use for staffing and equipment needed for the receipt, storage, distribution, and /administration of the H1N1 vaccine costs associated with the H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Campaign. A generator for the building, gift certificates for the clinic are among the expenses to date.

Other financial items of note:

·         The cost of medical insurance for QVHD employees has increased 20% to about $250,000.  Health insurance plans will be on the table for the next Union contract negotiation.

·         Budget requests have been sent to member Towns.  The per capita rate has been maintained at $5.195. Any change in the amounts requested is the result of 2008 OPM population estimates used for the FY 2011 budgeting process.  According to the OPM population estimates, the population for Bethany is up by 9 people; Woodbridge down by 8 people; North Haven increased by 41 people and Hamden increased by 164.

L Balch requests that the finance committee meet in January. A motion to place the financial report on file was made by L. Haddad, seconded by S. Faris and accepted unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

BY-LAWS COMMITTEE  L. Balch presented the recommendations of the By-Law Committee for discussion and action. These changes were proposed by the By-Laws committee, presented at the September 2009 meeting and mailed in writing for Board review and comment. The majority of changes are for clarification, editing or universality of statements over time, regardless of District growth. Discussion followed regarding Board meeting schedule and notifications for Board attendance. After discussion, the following was decided:

There will be six (6) meetings of the Board per calendar year. Meetings of the QVHD Board will be held in the month March, April, May, June, September and December. All meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month, except for the December meeting, which will be held on the second Thursday. Meetings will commence at 4:30 p.m.

With regards to missed meetings, the Board member will be contacted in writing after missing 2 unexcused meetings and allowed one month for a response before the member town official is notified.

A motion to accept the By-Laws with the changes as presented was made by J. Donaldson, seconded by M. Rochow and accepted unanimously.

HEALTH ED REPORT:  D. Culligan noted that QVHD staff have been very busy with H1N1 clinics, primarily in the school setting and some in the community. To date, all parents of school-aged children within the District and the town of Orange have been offered an opportunity to receive the H1N1 vaccination. All who pre-registered have been given an opportunity to receive the vaccine with Amity High School, Sacred Heart, Hamden High and Hamden Middle school remaining to be vaccinated. (This is planned over the next two weeks.) There have been many persons in the community who have volunteered generously of their time to help make this campaign a success. Board member A. Levison noted that she has assisted at some of the clinics and has been impressed with their operation and the scheduling that has been done.

DIRECTORS REPORT:

At 6:00 p.m., a motion to enter Executive Session was made by M. Rochow, seconded by V. Masi for the purpose of the discussion of a personnel matter. Executive session was closed at 6:07 p.m. and a motion to resume regular session was made by M. Rochow, seconded by V. Masi and accepted unanimously.

L. Balch reported/discussed the following items:

·         A communication to North Haven planning and zoning asking for a ban on outdoor wood furnaces (OWF) was presented at the December 7, 2009 Planning and Zoning meeting. The concept was well received by the Board and residents in attendance for further study and discussion. Interestingly, 2 days later Attorney General Blumenthal held a press conference on the same topic.

·         A. Levison and R. Masi, having been involved with H1N1 clinics, noted QVHD staff was working hard to schedule and staff H1N1 clinics, particularly D. Culligan and L. Fox, and that the clinics were run well due to their diligence. The amount of coordination between school staff and QVHD staff was exceptional.

·         The 3 months of administrative planning with school superintendents for the school-located H1N1 clinics, increased the amount of up-front time investment but had only a small impact on the actual operational issues to vaccinate so many children, in so many places, with unpredictable inventory.

·         Clinics were planned for schools in the 5 towns sequentially, from youngest to oldest students, based on the epidemiology and anticipated spread of illness. Second doses are required for children under 10 years old, so they were vaccinated early in the campaign.

·         L. Balch noted that communication during the H1N1 vaccination campaign was aided by the use of technology, such as email, websites and voice mail, although updates were still time consuming because of the frequent changes in target groups, epidemiological information, and expanding knowledge about the H1N1 flu virus.

·         Staff has risen to the H1N1 challenge, and the willingness and ability of environmental staff to cross over into clinical operations has been pleasing. Thanks were extended to L. Fox, all staff and the volunteers for their time and efforts.

President McClure asked that the minutes reflect the gratitude of the QVHD Board to the staff and the volunteers. Duly noted.

At 6:20 p.m., a motion to adjourn was made by R. Masi, seconded by M. Rochow and voted unanimously.

The next QVHD Board meeting will be held on March 25, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. at the District office.

Minutes prepared by: D. Culligan, QVHD staff