Health Committee

October 10, 2007 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Members:                   Sean Clark, Chairman; Sandy Price, Vice Chairman; Larry Cornell, Mike McKee, Carol Tytler, Ron Van Dee and Tom Williams

Others Present:         Marilyn Brown, Chairman, Cortland County Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Jackie Gailor, Director of Public Health; Michael Kilmer, Director of Administrative Services, Mental Health Department; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard; and Eric Mulvihill, WXHC

Mr. Clark called the meeting to order at 7:31 a.m.

Mr. Cornell moved adoption of the minutes of the September 12, 2007 meeting; seconded by Ms. Price.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as corrected.

SUGGESTED LEGISLATIVE REVIEW:

**The following items have been noted as items for suggested Legislative Review by the Chairman of the Health Committee.  These items are also noted with ** and in bold print.

·       Amend Budget Transfer Funds Health Department, Children with Special Needs Division 

·       Abolish/Create Mental Health Department Secretary I/Senior Account Clerk

·       Authorize Agreement FCS Psychiatry Recruitment Services 

·       Suit-Kote  

·       Departmental Budgets

RESOLUTIONS:

MENTAL HEALTH

14.              ** Abolish/Create Mental Health Department Secretary I/Senior Account Clerk – Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Mr. Kilmer explained that recently an individual in the position of Secretary I retired and he spoke with Ms. Barber and Mr. Schrader regarding the need for more assistance in the accounting area at the Clinic.  Ms. Price inquired if Mr. Kilmer was comfortable with this change.  Mr. Kilmer expressed that he was very much so.  He further discussed the savings that will occur by making this change.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved. 

15.              Amend Budget Mental Health Department (NYS Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities)– Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee.  Mr. Kilmer explained that this is for a COLA increase from Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved. 

16.              ** Authorize Agreement FCS Psychiatry Recruitment Services – Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Mr. Kilmer explained that as of today he has not received any recommendations from Locum Tenans.  He explained that this resolution is with another company that specifically deals with permanently placing psychiatrists.  He added that the County will only pay if the company provides the County with a permanent full time psychiatrist and added that they are less expensive than Locum Tenans.  Mr. McKee addressed concerns he had with the contract being non-exclusive.  Mr. Kilmer explained that even though there are agreements with two companies, the County can still do there own thing and search for a psychiatrist on there own.  He stated that these companies would only be paid if their services were utilized.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Committee members discussed making agenda items 1 through 13 a consent agenda. 

Mr. Clark introduced Consent Agenda, Items 1 through 13, and asked if there were any items to be pulled for discussion.

Ms. Tytler requested that Consent Agenda Item No. 6 be removed and acted upon separately.

The following agenda item was removed from the Consent Agenda to be acted upon separately: Consent Agenda Item No. 6.

Mr. Cornell moved adoption of the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Agenda Item No. 6, which was removed by the request of Ms. Tytler to be acted upon separately; seconded by Ms. Tytler.

CONSENT AGENDA

1.                  Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds Health Administration Special Pedestrian Traffic Grant

2.                  Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds Health Administration Traffic Safety and Injury Prevention Program

3.                  Authorize Agreements/Accept Funds Health Department/Administration/Special Programs Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

4.                  Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds Health Department Tobacco Enforcement Program

5.                  Authorize Agreement Health Department/Diagnostic and Treatment Center Auditor

6.                  ** Amend Budget Transfer Funds Health Department, Children with Special Needs Division- Removed to be acted upon separately

7.                  Authorize Agreements Health Department (Nursing Division) MOMS Program Provider Physicians

8.                  Authorize Agreement Health Department (Nursing Division) Cortland Regional Medical Center/Childbirth Classes

9.                  Authorize Agreements Health Department (Nursing Division) (Contracted Services)

10.              Authorize Agreements Health Department (Nursing Division) (Contracted Services)

11.              Authorize Agreements Health Department/Children with Special Needs Division (Contracts for Services)

12.              Authorize Agreement Cortland County Health Department (Nursing Division) Thornberry, Ltd

13.              Authorize Agreement Cortland County Health Department (Nursing Division) FGA Software Solutions

All members voted in favor; none opposed; consent agenda adopted.

NON-CONSENT AGENDA

6.                  ** Amend Budget Transfer Funds Health Department, Children with Special Needs Division – Ms. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that after the full-time Speech Pathologist position was created the County was made aware of a child in need of services that was not anticipated.  Ms. Tytler inquired if the funds are for services or transportation.  Ms. Gailor stated that the funds are for services.  Ms. Gailor further discussed children at the age of 4˝ being able to switch from Early Intervention (EI) services to Pre- K services.  She added that these changes are not being made this year; they are staying with EI services.  Ms. Gailor further explained that there is no appropriation of funds; funds are only being moved from Pre-K to EI.  She added that the creation of the position of Speech Pathologist has been a savings to the County.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

DISCUSSION:

1.         ** Suit-Kote – Ms. Gailor explained that Audrey Lewis has provided a Summary Report regarding Suit-Kote Odor Concerns to the Health Committee (See Attachment “A”).  Committee members discussed the report that Ms. Lewis provided to the Health Committee.  Ms. Price addressed her concerns that the summary report states that there are a considerable number more complaints in 2007.  Ms. Gailor explained that several individuals have called in with complaints more frequently than others.  She did state that since Suit-Kote announced the increase number of tanks the calls have increased.  Committee members and Ms. Gailor discussed the summary report further. 

1.                  ** Departmental Budgets - Mr. Schrader explained that the Budget Requests from Individual Departments have been distributed to all Legislators.  He added that if anyone has any questions they could address them to Ms. Gailor, Mr. Kilmer or to himself.  He did respectfully request that any questions addressed to him be done via e-mail.  He explained that there were no substantial changes to the requests in the Mental Health Department.  He did add that Mr. Kilmer has made adjustments based on the psychiatric needs.  Mr. Schrader also explained that Ms. Gailor has made significant changes in the area of Nursing.  He explained that there is a decrease in the area of Nursing of seven positions.  He also explained that there is an increase in the area of EI and Pre-K, including half EI Coordinator position.  Mr. Schrader explained that the proposal regarding the Deputy Director of Public Health and the Director of Patient Services previously submitted has been incorporated into the Budget this year.  Ms. Gailor explained that with St. Joseph’s here already and Cortland Regional Medical Center trying to become a licensed CHHA the need for these positions in Nursing is low.  She also stated that if there were a need in the future to increase the positions the revenue would be increased also to support that.  Mr. Cornell inquired about when budgets would be reviewed by the Budget & Finance Committee.  Mr. Schrader explained that the tentative budget will be released on October 25, 2007 and after that he will coordinated with the Chairman of the Budget & Finance Committee to establish times for the budget review.  Mr. McKee inquired if there were any positions being eliminated that are due to grant cuts.  Ms. Gailor stated no, there are only positions that are not filled.  Mr. Van Dee discussed similar changes done at the Highway Department a few years back.  Mr. Schrader explained that if the position is not in the budget then the position does not exist. 

Mr. Clark adjourned the meeting at 7:54 a.m.

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