09-23-2024 Meeting Minutes BOHMINUTES
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
PCHD CLASSROOM
September 23, 2024
A regular meeting of the Person County Board of Health was held in the Classroom of the Person County
Health Department. The following members constituting a quorum were present: Dr. Jeffrey Noblett,
Phillip Edelblute, Patsy Clayton, Ted Michie, Dr. Ben Tillett, Gordon Powell, Dr. Kenneth Strachan,
Randy Eakes, and Dr. Stephen Garrett. Dr. Christopher Atkins and Dr. Barbara Harris were absent. Also
present was LeighAnn Creson, Quality Assurance Specialist, Tabatha Philpott, Nursing Supervisor, Janet
Clayton, Health Director, Jennifer Melton, Administrative Officer, and Bonnie Holt, Environmental
Health Supervisor.
A. Call to Order
Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Chairman of the Board of Health called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
B. Public Comment Period
No members of the public were present for comment.
C. Consent Agenda
A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Dr. Ben Tillett, seconded by Ted Michie,
and the motion carried.
D. Financial Report: August 2024
A motion to approve the financial report was made by Dr. Stephen Garrett, seconded by Phillip
Edelblute, and the motion carried.
E. Client Satisfaction Surveys
LeighAnn Creson, Quality Assurance Specialist/Health Educator, reviewed the results of the
client satisfaction surveys. This is a more generic survey that can be conducted with any Health
Department program/service and is available throughout the year. Survey responses came from
clients served through the Environmental Health, Health Education, WIC, Immunization,
Sexually Transmitted Infection, and Communicable Disease programs. The overall results were
positive. There were no recommended changes in operations or services.
F. Community Surveys
LeighAnn Creson, Quality Assurance Specialist/Health Educator, reviewed the results of the
community surveys. These surveys can be completed by any citizen regardless of whether they
have received a health department service. There were 240 total responses compared to 32
responses in late 2021-early 2022. Survey results were overall positive; there were no
recommended changes in operations or services at this time.
G. Workforce Development Plan
A copy of the Workforce Development Plan was included in the Board of Health packets for
review. LeighAnn Creson reviewed the plan which includes workforce by age category,
department turnover, training requirements, and staff recruitment. Discussion was held regarding
resignations and staff recruitment.
H. Well Rules Discussion
Janet Clayton and Bonnie Holt informed the Board of the recent changes of issuing well
variances from the North Carolina Division of Public Health-Environmental Health Section
(NCDPHEH). NCDPHEH will no longer issue well variances for those counties who have local
well rules. Currently in North Carolina, ten counties have local regulations for private drinking
water wells. Person County has local well rules; however, the rules adopt the state rules, 15A
NCAC 02C Well Construction Rules, by reference. The two differences in the rules are a 10 feet
property line setback and the requirement of 62 feet of casing from the land surface. Janet
Clayton shared concerns regarding the issuing of variances to the state rules solely because we
have local rules. Bonnie Holt outlined the current process for securing a well variance, and how
the process will change.
Additionally, Janet Clayton shared with board members the changes to North Carolina General
Statute (NCGS) 143-300.8, “Defense of Registered Environmental Health Specialists, Registered
Environmental Health Specialist Interns, and Registered Environmental Health Associates”.
Session Law 166v6 amended the NCGS to state in (c) that the local health department shall pay
half of any judgement against the aforementioned staff, and the state shall pay the other half if the
employee is enforcing state rules. However, if the employee is enforcing local rules, the local
health department will pay the total judgement.
Clayton and Holt have consulted with County Attorney T. C. Morphis, Jr. Mr. Morphis reviewed
the process and the charge of the Board of Health. He is available for consultation if the Board of
Health desires.
There was discussion about the current rules and the reasoning for having local rules. Local
boards of health are charged with protecting public health and may enact more stringent rules in
order to carry out this duty. This authority is found in NCGS 130A-39 (a) and (b). After further
discussion, the consensus of board members was to maintain the current Person County Board of
Health Rules, “Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater Protection in Person
County, North Carolina”.
I. Staff Liaison Updates
• Personal Health
o Offsite flu clinics are in process.
o Flu and COVID vaccine clinic to be held at the Senior Center.
o 10/24 at PCC-partnering with BCBS for a screening event; offering HIV and Syphilis
testing.
o 10/9 CD/STD state program audit.
o Caswell County HD staff coming to PCHD tomorrow to shadow.
• Environmental Health
o Five remodels occurring recently- grocery stores/restaurants.
o Alan and Kenneth attended an EH Law course.
o Getting applications from vendors for Relay for Life.
J. Health Director’s Report
❖ Various Updates-
o The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee met on September 4th. The next meeting
will be November 6th. All annual reports were completed prior to 9/30. We were
selected for the initiative through NCACC to participate in the Trauma Informed
Community program. Workgroup members participated in an orientation on 9/16.
o I participated in the Vaya Region 4 Board meeting in Burlington on August 28th.
o The county is implementing the use of NextRequest for public records requests.
Bonnie, Jennifer, and I will be the department’s users.
o Holiday celebration plans are underway. The annual holiday dinner will be held on
Thursday, December 12th at 5:00 pm.
o There have been several meetings to discuss the well rules and the variance changes.
o PCHD began offering flu shots to the public during September. Staff have also
visited various schools and held a county employee flu shot clinic.
o Jennifer and I are working with DSS to transition from CFPT and CCPT teams to one
joint team per the new legislation that is effective January 1, 2025.
o I continue to participate in the monthly Region 5 meetings.
o Annual strategic plan development is continuing.
o I attended the monthly NCALHD meeting on 9/17 in conjunction with NCPHA.
❖ Personnel-
o Nutritionist II position has been reposted. To assist with the workload, PCHD has
entered into a contract with a staffing agency that specializes in nutritionists.
o Kija Gary joined our staff today as the Processing Assistant V.
❖ Next meeting is Monday, October 28, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
K. Board Member Remarks
Ben Tillett shared with members that the ANCBH Board of Health Governance Network is
having a virtual event series tonight from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Karl Johnson, PhD Assistant
Professor UNC Gillings School of Public Health and Associate Member of ANCBH will be
presenting.
L. Adjournment
Having no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Randy Eakes, seconded
by Dr. Kenneth Strachan, and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Clayton
Health Director/Secretary
Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Board Chair