06-24-2019 Meeting Minutes BOH- 1 -
MINUTES
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
CLASSROOM OF THE
PERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
June 24, 2019
A regular meeting of the Person County Board of Health was held in the Classroom in the Person
County Health Department. The following members constituting a quorum were present: Dr.
Christopher Atkins, Phillip Edelblute, Dr. Stephen Saunders, Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Dr. Kimberly
Yarborough, Dr. Barbara Harris, Steven Bailey and Ted Michie. Board members Dr. Ben Tillett,
David Newell, Sr. and Patsy Clayton were absent. Also present were Harold Kelly, Environmental
Health Supervisor, Pam Cook, Administrative Assistant, Michelle White, Interim Nursing Director,
Phyllis Rocco, Chief Public Health Nurse, Division of Public Health, Lynn Conner, Public Health
Nurse Consultant, and Janet Clayton, Health Director.
A. Call to Order
Dr. Christopher Atkins, Chairman of the Board of Health called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
B. Public Comment Period
No other public members were present.
C. Consent Agenda
A motion to approve the consent agenda as presented was made by Dr. Stephen Saunders,
seconded by Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, and the motion carried unanimously.
D. Financial Report
Janet Clayton presented the financial report. Ms. Clayton noted the $200,000 for the sale of
Home Health & Hospice was in the Hospice revenues. The Medicaid cost settlement is
distributed among programs. Ms. Clayton stated the fund balance total that was previously
shared with the board was the audited balance, and the fund balance amount, which was included
on the previously distributed balance sheets is a fluid number and may change each time a
balance sheet report is created; therefore, the audited fund balance amount is the number that is
reported when asked.
E. New Fee-Non-Residential Use Well Permit Fee
Ms. Clayton noted a new EH fee was approved in the county budget for a non-residential use
well permit for $100. A motion to approve the fee was made by Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, seconded
by Steven Bailey, and the motion carried.
F. Health Department Services
Janet stated that she invited Phyllis Rocco, Chief Public Health Nurse with DPH and Lynn
Conner, Nurse Consultant, to provide the board with information and concerns regarding the
decision of the County Commissioners to eliminate the Director of Nursing position and to
freeze all vacant positions. She reported that the agency recently had two other resignations, and
effective July 8, we will have only one clinic nurse. Our chief concern is providing safe patient
care. In addition, Janet let the board know that health department program services are regularly
assessed and audited. We recently had an infection control audit, Women’s Health Branch audit
and two immunization audits.
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Ms. Rocco shared with the board that the nursing board requires a nurse leader in every
organization that employs a nursing workforce. Additionally, health departments are required to
have nurse leader per the North Carolina Administrative Code. The Commissioners’ action of
eliminating the Nursing Director/Supervisor and freezing vacant positions places the citizens of
Person County at risk. The local health department is mandated to provide immunizations on
demand, detect, treat, and report Sexually Transmitted Diseases and other communicable
diseases. The health department is required to monitor, report, and respond to communicable
disease reports to prevent outbreaks; Ms. Rocco noted that a measles outbreak is knocking at our
doors. Without adequate staffing the health department will not be able to provide these
mandated services causing Person County citizens to travel out of the county to receive these
services. Transportation will be very challenging for many citizens. In addition, the state may
reduce or eliminate funding.
Lynn Conner, Nursing Consultant stated that she has worked with the health department for
thirteen years and recently assisted the agency in assessing clinical services through a Practice
Management process. The agency strives to provide top quality efficient services.
Following discussion, the board decided to draft a letter to the County Commissioners requesting
to reinstate the nursing director position and unfreeze the vacant positions.
G. Nominations / Approval
Dr. Kimberly Yarborough presented the slate of officers for FY 2019-2020. Steven Bailey has
been nominated to serve as the Board Chair with Dr. Jeffrey Noblett as Vice-Chair. A motion to
accept the slate of officers as presented was made by Dr. Stephen Saunders, seconded by Dr.
Kimberly Yarborough, and the motion carried.
H. Staff Liaison Updates
Environmental Health
o EH staff continue to be very busy providing services.
o Bonnie and Adam had program reviews for the Child Care and Lead programs. A
State Regional Specialist conducted the review as an accreditation requirement.
o Adam recently completed the design and permitting of a 9-lot subdivision on Hyco
Lake. Another 7-lot subdivision on Hyco is in the design phase. A 162-lot
subdivision, also on Hyco, is in the preliminary design phase. This subdivision will
be served by a proposed State permitted wastewater system.
o Henri continues to keep the office running smoothly and maintains the database of
scanned documents. When Henri is out of the office, another staff member must
provide all front desk services.
o Jake continues to work on meeting the State requirements for authorization. This
involves independently evaluating lots and designing systems. Adam has been
working closely with Jake to ensure that he is receiving the required trained. We
hope to initiate the authorization process in July.
o A member of the Board of Health recently observed Bonnie inspecting a restaurant
and was impressed by her knowledge, demeanor, and professionalism.
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Personal Health
o We are currently looking at what services we can offer safely. Michelle has been
very instrumental in this process. She is working closely with Pam on the
appointment schedule.
o WIC is working on outreach to increase participation.
I. Health Directors Report
HD Contact Information Updated due to new mobile device policy and email address.
Budget-
o June 4 CC Budget Work Session- Discussion regarding HD fund balance.
o June 10 CC Budget Work Session- Motion for county manager to incorporate the
elimination of the PH Nursing Director I position and the freezing of all other vacant
HD positions in the proposed budget.
o June 17 CC Regular Meeting- CC adopted the budget with the aforementioned
changes with knowledge this is in conflict of the NCAC, NCBON guidance, and the
DPH AA.
Medicaid Transformation-
o I continue to work with and meet with Ron Aycock, county attorney, regarding the
MCO contracts that have been received.
o I have provided to him the most recent guidance from DHB and DPH that I received
during the NCALHD meeting on 6/20.
Various Updates-
o Pam Cook coordinated the new Safe Sleep billboard on 501 at the county line.
This was funded through PCHD and Cardinal Innovations in support of the
CFPT.
o LeighAnn Creson participated in the Person Family Medical Center Family
Fun Day.
o WIC staff member, Yolanda Edwards, participated in the Roxboro Housing
Authority’s Expo Day.
o A new MDPP cohort began on June 6th.
o The annual Community Survey has been released. Please complete the
survey.
o Pam Cook and staff participated in the NCHIEA webinar on 6/21.
o I attended both sessions of the Emotional Intelligence Training for county
department heads (May 21 and June 13)
o On May 23, I attended the Partnership for Children Board meeting.
o I have postponed the continuation of the Strategic Plan process due to CC
changes in personnel.
o I attended the monthly NCALHD meetings.
o MT continues the annual departmental policy review.
Personnel-
o Mikhayla Dunn, health educator, has been deployed for a year.
o Chiletta Collins joined us on June 10 in the OBCM SWII position.
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o The following positions are vacant and frozen:
Community Health Technician I
Medical Laboratory Technician I
LPN II
Processing Assistant III
Public Health Nurse II- Clinic
Public Health Nurse II- Clinic
Public Health Nurse II- Care Management
Public Health Nurse III- Family Planning/STI Program
Public Health Nurse III- Maternal Health Program
o Tabatha Philpott, PHNIII has resigned effective July 5th.
o Bert Grinstead, PHNII has resigned effective July 2nd.
J. Health Director’s Annual Summary / Job Description
Janet Clayton reviewed the minor changes within the health director’s revised job description.
She also shared with the Board members the department’s annual summary for the past year. A
motion to approve the job description was made, by Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, seconded by
Steven Bailey, and the motion carried.
K. Closed Session: Personnel Issue
A motion to enter into closed session to discuss personnel was made by Steven Bailey, seconded
by Dr. Jeffrey, and the motion carried.
A motion to return to open session was made by Steven Bailey, seconded by Dr. Jeffrey Noblett,
and the motion carried.
A motion to approve the Health Director’s performance review was made by Dr. Jeffrey Noblett,
seconded by Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, and the motion carried.
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 unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Clayton
Health Director/Secretary