09-28-2020 Meeting Minutes BOHMINUTES
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
FEMA ROOM
September 28, 2020
A regular meeting of the Person County Board of Health was held in the FEMA room of
the Person County Government complex. The following members constituting a quorum
were present: Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Dr. Christopher Atkins, Patsy Clayton, Phillip
Edelblute, Dr. Barbara Harris, Dr. Ben Tillett, Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, Dr. Stephen
Saunders, and Ted Michie were present. Ray Jeffers was absent. Also present were
Tabatha Philpott, Nursing Supervisor, Harold Kelly, Environment Health Supervisor,
Jennifer Melton, Administrative Assistant, and Janet Clayton, Health Director.
A. Call to Order
Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Chairman of the Board of Health called the meeting to order
at 7:00 p.m.
B. Public Comment Period
No members of the public were present for comments or questions.
C. Consent Agenda
A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Dr. Stephen Saunders,
seconded by Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, and the motion carried.
D. Financial Report: August 2020
A motion to approve the financial reports was made by Dr. Stephen Saunders,
seconded by Phillip Edelblute, and the motion carried.
E. COVID Update
Janet Clayton presented the Person County COVID-19 update to the Board. This
presentation outlined updated statistics, COVID-19 vaccine information, and
Person County Health Department’s continued response. Discussion was held
regarding the following topics: increase in positive cases after Labor Day,
planned phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, recent COVID-19 community
testing event, antibody testing information, and COVID-19 deaths in Person
County.
F. Workforce Development and Diversity Multi-year Training and Exercise
Plan (WDD/My-TEP)
Janet Clayton presented the Workforce Development and Diversity Multi-year
Training and Exercise Plan (WDD/My-TEP). Dr. Ben Tillett asked Janet if she
feels that the turnover rate is lower. Janet Clayton responded that last year two
employees retired, and one social worker resigned due to obtaining a job in
another county closer to where she lives with increased salary. Janet also
explained that the nurse departures were largely due to what was going on within
the department last summer, with the exception of one nurse, who was hired and
then resigned within a couple of days due to family issues. This year, staffing
remains stable; however, we did have another social worker resign and go to
another county offering $6,000-$8,000 more per year. Dr. Ben Tillett asked if
salaries are in line with other surrounding counties. Janet Clayton stated that
the recent compression study helped most existing staff get an increase in
salary, but salaries in Person County are lower than Durham County. Janet will
compare the salaries and bring the information back to the board. A motion to
approve the Workforce Development and Diversity Multi-year Training and
Exercise Plan was made by Dr. Barbara Harris, seconded by Patsy Clayton, and
the motion carried.
G. Strategic Plan 2021
Janet Clayton reviewed the 2021 Strategic Plan and outcomes of the previous
Strategic Plan. Dr. Ben Tillett asked why we see efficiency as a weakness in the
SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Janet
Clayton responded that staff are working continuously to learn ways to be more
efficient (ex. nurses using mobile laptop units during a client visit to document
the visit in the exam room instead of moving the client from room to room. Also,
using a mass vaccination app to get patient registration done prior to a
vaccination clinic to save the client time). A motion to approve the Strategic
Plan 2021 was made by Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, seconded by Dr. Barbara
Harris, and the motion carried.
H. Residential Well Concerns
Harold Kelly reported concerns from residents living in a subdivision off Dee
Long Rd regarding their residential wells. One resident has a well that is 640 ft.
deep and getting less than one gallon of water per minute. Within the past year,
another home was built on the adjacent lot; the well at this residence is 1,200 ft.
deep and only producing ¼ cup of water per minute. To have ample water
supply, the owners fill a water tank from city water supply and dump it into their
well. The two residences as well as several others in the area have very low
producing wells. The homeowners recently attended a County Commissioners’
meeting asking for assistance from the County. The Commissioners suggested
the homeowners contact the City and ask for permission to extend the water line.
The City has given Janet an estimate for the project.
I. General Communicable Disease Update
Janet provided a communicable disease update for the period 1/1/2018-
8/31/2020. For the period of 1/1/2020-8/31/2020, Person County had 125
Chlamydia cases, 36 Gonorrhea cases, and 7 Syphilis cases. Dr. Kimberly
Yarborough asked if the Syphilis cases were related to one another. Tabatha
Philpott reported that the cases are not linked. Janet mentioned that STD
services for clients have now resumed.
J. Staff Liaison Updates
Personal Health
o OBCM Care Manager started 9/28/20.
o FP Coordinator position posted and closed: 3 applicants
o CC4C Care Manager continues to train.
o 9/24/20: re-opened our MH clinic
o Anticipating a 2nd Duke provider day for FP, STD, and MH clinics.
o Two clinic nurses started “Principles and Practice of Public Health”
on 9/28/20, which is a pre-requisite for the STD ERRN course
through UNC Gillings School of Public Health. When the STD
ERRN training is completed, there will be total 3 nurses with ERRN
certification; this will allow for more availability to treat STD clients.
o 9/19/20: COVID Community Event with Shady Hill Baptist Church:
75 tests performed.
o 10/7/20: extended hours for flu vaccines (4:30-6:30)
o 10/9/20: County/City flu clinic
o 10/13/20: Person County Schools flu clinic
o Working with several LTCF’s in the county to schedule flu vaccines
for them.
o Working with Person County Group Homes to schedule flu
vaccines and other needed vaccines for the residents.
o Continuing to work closely with Person County Schools, Bethel Hill,
RCS, and RCA regarding COVID/COVID related issues.
o Implementing a work group to begin planning for a mass COVID
vaccine event; received some guidance from the State and more
information/guidance is forthcoming; continue to have phase trials
of the COVID vaccine; States guidance gives phases of who should
be vaccinated first:
Phase 1: Potentially limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine
doses available. Focus initial efforts on reaching people who
work in healthcare as phase 1A; 1B: People who play a key
role in keeping essential functions of society running and
cannot socially distance in the workplace (e.g., healthcare
personnel not included in Phase 1A, emergency and law
enforcement personnel not included in Phase 1A, food
packaging and distribution workers, teachers/school staff,
childcare providers), and people at increased risk for severe
COVID-19 illness, including people 65 of age or older.
Phase 2: Large number of vaccine doses available. Focus
on ensuring access to vaccine for members of Phase 1
critical populations who were not yet vaccinated as well as
for the general population; expand provider network.
Phase 3: Sufficient supply of vaccine doses for entire
population (surplus of doses). Focus on ensuring equitable
vaccination access across the entire population.
Environmental Health
o Laserfiche is still not operational due to cyber incident. Henrietta
will be scanning documents into the system once it is restored.
o New software has been implemented for restaurant inspections.
o Adam is continuing to work with EnerGov-may be implemented in
January.
o EH received application from Upper Piedmont Landfill for a new
facility that will need a wastewater system. The facility will be
converting methane gas collected from the landfill into natural gas.
o Jake has completed his 2nd year of employment and will be taking
the Registered Environmental Health Specialist exam and
Environmental Health law course when they become available.
K. Health Director’s Report
Various Updates
o A large amount of staff time, including the health director’s,
continues to be consumed with the COVID-19 response.
o WIC continues to serve clients via phone and remote loading of
cards and have received a grant to purchase mobile technology.
WIC continues to meet or exceed caseload.
o Immunizations, including seasonal flu vaccinations, are being
provided by appointment.
o I participated in the quarterly Partnership for Children Advisory
Board meeting on August 27.
o Kelly and I attended the County Commissioners’ meeting on
September 8 regarding the waterline extension request.
o On September 10, I provided a presentation to the Rotary Club via
Zoom regarding COVID-19.
o A community COVID-19 testing event in partnership with East
Cedar Grove Association, which includes 9 churches on September
19 at Shady Hill Baptist Church. There were many planning calls
and a Zoom meeting prior to the event.
o Flu vaccination planning discussions across disciplines were held.
o I reviewed the courthouse jury hearing procedures and attended
the planning meeting on September 14.
o The QIA Team met on September 18.
o Various meetings continue to be held via Zoom and other means to
incorporate social distancing guidelines. Staff are continuing to not
congregate in breakrooms, hallways, offices, etc.
o As time allows, staff are continuing to purge and scan files.
Personnel
o Social Worker II (OBCM)-Elizabeth Haebig joined us today,
September 28.
o The following positions are vacant:
Community Health Technician-Part-time
Public Health Nurse II-Clinic
Public Health Nurse II-Clinic
Public Health Nurse III-FP/STD Program Coordinator
(Interviews are Friday, October 2)
PHN III-PH Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is being
resubmitted to OSHR.
Dr. Ben Tillett asked if Person County Health Department is receiving money
appropriated for COVID-19. Janet Clayton responded that federal funds as well as
funds from the General Assembly have received, but these funds go through NCDHHS
first; NCDHHS then decides what part comes to the local governments. Discussion was
held regarding federal and state funding for local health departments.
L. Adjournment
Having no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Dr.
Stephen Saunders, seconded by Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, and the motion
carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Clayton
Health Director/Secretary