QUINNIPIACK VALLEY HEALTH DISTRICT

BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES

North Haven, CT

February 26, 2009

4:30 p.m.

Attendance: A.McClure; D.Cofrancesco; L.DeNegre;  J.Donaldson; C.Goldberg; A.Levison; P.Marone; B.Scott; A.Sofair (via telephone); L.Balch, ex officio; D.Culligan, staff; J.Silvestri, staff.

Not in Attendance: S.Faris; T.Gersdorf; L.Haddad; V.Masi; M.Rochow  

President A.McClure called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m. and declared a quorum present. She noted that Moms Clinic received a donation from the Hamden Rotary Club in the amount of $1,500. She also noted the media reports of increased flu activity in the New Haven area. L. Balch agreed CT was seeing peaking and the trend was similar to last year, with a few cases more than last year at this time. D. Culligan noted that QVHD has not received many reports.

Minutes: A motion to approve the January, 2009 minutes was made by B.Scott, seconded by P.Marone and unanimously approved.

Financial Report:

The Financial Report for the period ending January 31, 2009 was reviewed.  L.Balch commented as follows: Target is 58.33%; Revenue is 64.82%; Expense is at 55.79%. The revenue is above the projected target because the Food Service licenses have come due. She does not expect revenue to continue to be above target. A motion to accept the financial report and place it on file was made by D.Cofrancesco, seconded by Dr.DeNegre and voted unanimously.

Committee Reports:

There were no committee reports this month, however L. Balch requested two Finance Committee meetings and one Personnel Committee meeting prior to the next Board Meeting. C.Goldberg was appointed by President McClure to the Finance Committee to fill the vacant position.

Administrative Reports:

Health Education Report by D.Culligan:

·         There was a good response to the offer of free radon testing kits. QVHD distributed about 50 kits and a number of discount coupons. QVHD should receive a report on the testing of the district distributed kits. She will share this with the Board when it is available.

·         The Advisory Committee Meeting for MOMs Clinic is scheduled to meet on March 10^th, 2009. A report will be shared at next months Board meeting. There was a legislative event in Hartford to showcase school based health centers. Two staff from Moms Clinic attended. D. Culligan created a storyboard, which is now being displayed in the teachers lounge at Hamden High to educate teachers about Moms Clinic.

·         QVHD has been working with the Hamden Town Risk Manager to comply with OSHA standards for Hepatitis B immunizations. To date, all Hamden Police Department personnel requesting the Hepatitis B series have received doses one and two.  

·         D. Culligan has been working with the Hamden Partnership for Young Children, which hosted a breakfast at Laurel View Country Club to showcase the partnership and seek more community members. D.Culligan and L.Balch attended the breakfast. D. Culligan will continue to serve on this committee.   

·         It is hoped that the QVHD Annual Report will be distributed by April.

Directors Report by L.Balch:

·         Region 2 (Milford to Haddam) is planning an exercise (drill) on May 19, 2009 that involves the pre-dispensing of antibiotics (hypothetically) to municipal first responders and critical staff. QVHD will be participating. Members of the Board are encouraged to volunteer at the QVHD office during the drill. More info to follow.

·         The QVHD Website has been updated with revisions to include State surveys.

·         L.Balch testified before the Appropriations Committee at the State Capital about the impact of the pending cuts to local health.

·         L. Balch and Lynn Fox will be meeting with Hamden P&Z next week regarding proposed changes to the Zoning Regulations that impact QVHDs housing inspections for student housing. 

·         New sources of revenue, forward thinking activities and cost saving initiatives are being sought and considered by QVHD management.  One such activity is with the CT Association of Directors of Healths (CADH) Health Inequities pilot program, which will come with staff assistance.  

·         L.Balch noted that the Governors proposed budget severely impacts local health departments. In the Governors budget, regionalization is encouraged, but at the same time the funds have been cut from $2.08 per capita to $1.25 for health district and a total cut to all municipal health departments, which translates to a loss just under $81,000 for QVHD. This represents regionalization without financial incentives and a direct cut to municipal funding.  L.Balch will forward talking points and legislators contact-information to Board members who wish to contact their legislators.

·         With regards to the QHVD Budget for 2009-2010, L.Balch noted:

o        Budget requests have been submitted to the towns, requesting $5.195 per capita (increased from $5.17 per capita.) When considering population changes, the increase in the per capita results in about $200.00 increase for Hamden and North Haven, a $3.00 increase for Woodbridge and about $340.00 increase for Bethany.

o        District fee income is down, interest is down, grants income not yet known. With proposed state cuts, overall draft budget is about $212,000 in deficit.

o        L. Balch stated her goal is to maintain services and staff. Current activity supports current levels of staffing. She is talking with the Union about modifications in work hours and prescription benefits that are possible without opening the contract.

·         L. Balch noted that the QHVD health insurance contract increased by 22% and is now about $25,000 per family contract. She noted that QHVD may be able to change their drug rider now, which would save about $13,000.

·         L. Balch proposed raising certain fees as follows:

Day Care Inspections: A new fee of $75.00 every two years for day care inspections.

Hair and Nail Salons: A $50.00 fee for plan review for new establishments only

Hotel and Motel inspections: An increase from $50.00 to $75.00 for establishments under 30 rooms and an increase from $75.00 to $100.00 for establishments over 30 rooms.

Public Pools: An increase from $60.00 to $75.00 for main pool; an increase from $10.00 to $25.00 for accessory pools (such as hot tubs and kiddie pools).

After discussion, a motion to approve the above proposed fees was made by J. Donaldson, seconded by P. Marone and was defeated unanimously.

Motion made by J. Donaldson to institute a $50.00 plan review fee for new cosmetology establishments opening on or after July 1, 2009, seconded by P. Marone. Vote: 5 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention. Motion carried with 3 of 4 Towns being represented in favor.

Motion made by J. Donaldson, to increase the license fee for hotels/motels greater than 30 rooms from $75.00 to $100, effective July 1, 2009, seconded by P. Marone and passed unanimously.

Motion made by J. Donaldson, to increase the fee for public swimming pool licensing from $60.00 to $75.00 and for accessory pools from $10.00 to $25.00, effective July 1, 2009, seconded by P. Marone and passed unanimously.

Motion to adjourn was made by Dr. DeNegre, seconded by B.Scott and voted unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.

Minutes prepared by:

J.Silvestri, QVHD staff