Health Committee
February 8, 2006 - 7:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Others Present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Jackie Gailor, Director, Health Department; Charlie Capanzano, Director of Mental Health
Mr. Clark called the meeting to order at 7:29 a.m.
Ms. Price made the motion to
adoption of the minutes of the January 12, 2006 meeting and seconded by Mr.
Williams. All members voting in favor, minutes approved as
corrected.
1.
Authorize Agreement, Richard McNeily, CPA Mr. Cornell
moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.
Mr. Capanzano explained to the committee that a CPA is needed to conduct
this audit of the 2005 Fiscal Report. Ms.
Tytler inquired about consolidating a single bid for auditors.
Mr. Schrader stated that it can not be done
be done until the contract expires later in 2006.
The committee discussed that this would a good time to start looking into
this. Mr. Williams asked if there
was an effort to look at other people to conduct this audit.
Mr. Capanzano and Mr. Schrader stated that they were not aware of others
being looked at. Mr. VanDee and Ms.
Tytler would like this to be looked into in the future.
Mr. Clark, Mr. Cornell, Mr. McKee, Ms. Price, Ms. Tytler and Mr. Van
Dee voted in favor; Mr. Williams voted opposed; resolution adopted.
2.
Amend Budget/Amend Agreement (Catholic Charities) Mr. McKee moved
adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mr.
Capanzano discussed 00% funding provided by New York State Office of Mental
Health. He added that this does
allow for payment for two beds at no cost to the County.
Mr. McKee inquired about the funding being for this year and whether or
not funds in the future will be available.
Mr. Capanzano stated that it is very unlikely that the funds will not be
available in the future. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
3.
Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Healthy Heart Program/Research
Foundation of SUNY Cortland Ms. Price
moved adoption; seconded by Mr. VanDee.
Ms. Gailor stated that this is done through a sub-contract with SUNY
Cortland to conduct research on the best ways to reach kids and parents
regarding healthy eating. She added
that this will be used to find the best ways to market healthy eating habits.
All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
4.
Authorize Agreements, Health Department, JCRH (State Grant) Mr.
VanDee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. Ms. Gailor stated that this an annual grant for more funding
than the department had planned and budgeted for.
Ms. Tytler inquired about an advertising campaign.
Ms. Gailor stated that this is to advertise the services that are
provided and she added that the state has requested counties to be provided.
Mr. Williams asked what TANF stood for.
Ms. Gailor stated that it is Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and
it is an acronym that is frequently used in the Health Department and in the
Department of Social Services. Committee
members asked that acronyms be spelled out in the resolutions.
All members voting in favor; none
opposed; resolution adopted.
5.
Amend Budget, Health Department (Grant Rollovers from 2005 to 2006 Budgets)
Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.
Ms. Gailor explained that this is a routine annual resolution in which
grants that have been budgeted for rollover into a new calendar year.
Ms. Tytler inquired about the difference between mileage, travel and
fuel. Ms. Gailor explained that
mileage is basically for reimbursement for miles traveled, travel is for travel
costs such as hotel, etc. and fuel is for the cost of fuel in a county car.
Ms. Price inquired if the Traffic Safety Board that held a meeting last
week was the same one that was referred to in this resolution.
Ms. Gailor believes that it is but she was not aware of the meeting ahead
of time. Committee members inquired
about the Bike Trail being in conjunction with the Healthy Heart Program.
Committee members were informed that the program is being done in
connection with the River Trail project. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
6.
Authorize Agreements/Accept Funds/Amend Budget, Health Department/Nursing
(Immunization Action Plan Grant) Ms. Price moved
adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. Ms.
Gailor explained that this is a grant that the county has received for years to
ensure that children and adults received immunizations at the appropriate times.
Ms. Tytler inquired about the phrase in the resolution stating preschool
children. Ms. Gailor stated that
preschool was the old focus and she will change it to people.
All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted as
amended.
7.
Accept Funds, Health Department/JCRH (HIV/AIDS SUNY Walkathon Funds) Mr.
Cornell moved adoption; seconded
by Ms. Tytler. Ms. Price
complimented that this program. All
members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.
8.
Authorize Contract, Health Department/Nursing (Jean B. Heady) Ms.
Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.
Ms. Gailor stated that people will be going to Syracuse for an exit
interview and some concerns have been raised.
She added that staffing levels have not allowed us to be fully functional
and there is a need for retraining. Ms.
Gailor explained to the committee that Jean B. Heady is well known across New
York State assisting in private and public in regards to Certified Home Health
Agency (CHHA). Ms. Price asked what
the committee could do to help the Health Department.
Ms. Gailor explained that recently they have hired two nurses and Ms.
Uttech is working to orient them. She
added that Ms. Feuerherm is looking at problem areas and would like to ask for
an Assistant Director of Patient Services to help alleviate some of the problems
she has seen. Mr. Clark stated that
it would be very helpful to bring in someone from the outside to look at the
CHHA program. Ms. Tytler asked that
the account number be added to the resolution.
Mr. McKee inquired if state law required us to have a CHHA.
Ms. Gailor provided some information regarding other counties in New York
State and went on to explain to the committee that in this county it would be
beneficial to have a CHHA due to our rural areas.
Mr. Clark added that rural areas seem to be left out and insurance
companies also add to leaving those areas out.
Chairman Brown asked what the downside of not having CHHA would be.
Ms. Gailor explained the benefits of having a CHHA under Cortland County.
Mr. Schrader stated that having this Health Department agency allows for
health care during an emergency. He
went on to add that in case of an emergency a service is provided.
Ms. Gailor explained that the County is required to proved medical
services in the event of an emergency. She
added that they do coordinate some services with the Red Cross. Chairman Brown asked what the concerns are if we do not
provide this service. Ms. Gailor
explained that they have had help from surrounding counties in providing this
care but the care is limited and not being provided in rural areas.
She further explained that if an individual cannot pay then a private
agency must provide a certain amount of charity services.
She stated that once that charity level is met then the private agency no
longer is required to provide services. She
stated that is CHHA is not provided through the county, publicly, then a private
agency can take it over and those rural areas will not be served.
All members voting in favor; none
opposed; resolution adopted.
Ms. Tytler explained to the committee that Roger Sibley of the Racker Center has changed some of their services and would like to come and speak to the committee regarding this. Mr. Williams inquired about coordinating this with the Human Services Committee. Ms. Gailor added that she would like to include the Health Board. Committee members discussed this meeting further. Ms. Tytler asked Mr. Clark to notify Mr. Sibley of the time and date of the next Health Committee meeting and invite him to come. The committee discussed meeting jointly with the Board of Health.
Ms. Gailor distributed an Expenditure Report and discussed it with committee
members. Ms. Tytler requested some
additional information regarding early intervention, Family Enrichment Network,
Racker Center, etc. Ms. Gailor
stated that she would provide the information at the next meeting.
Ms. Gailor stated that she had attended the NYSAC meeting last week and was informed that there is money available for agencies regarding the Special Education Itinerant Teachers (SEIT) program. Ms. Gailor explained to the committee the information she had obtained. She added that it is worth looking into.
Mr. Williams made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Clark. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 am.