Health Committee

January 12, 2006 - 9:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Members:                   Sean Clark, Chairman; Sandy Price, Vice Chairperson; Larry Cornell, Mike McKee, Carol Tytler, Tom Williams

Others Present:          Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Susan Morgan, Clerk of the Legislature; Jackie Gailor, Director, Health Department; Charlie Capanzano, Director of Mental Health; Linda Medeiros, Director of Administration of Mental Health; Evan Geibel, Cortland Standard  

Absent:                       Ron VanDee

 

Mr. Clark called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m.

Ms. Price made the motion to adoption of the minutes of the November 29, 2005 and December

8, 2005 meetings and seconded by Mr. Cornell.  All members voting in favor, minutes

approved as printed.

 

RESOLUTIONS:

 

Health Department

 

1.          Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Nursing Division, Contracted Services - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Ms. Gailor explained to the committee that this is done annually for contracted services.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

2.         Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Children With Special Needs Program, Contracts for Services – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee.  Ms. Gailor explained that these rates are set by the state.  Mrs. Tytler inquired about Family Enrichment Network being added to the resolution.  The committee further discussed adding Family Enrichment Network and that they provide services similar to Rackers Center.  They further discussed recruitment to provide half-day programs for preschoolers.  Ms. Price made a motion to add Family Enrichment Network to the resolution; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  All members voting in favor of adding Family Enrichment Network to the resolution; none opposed; Family Enrichment Network added to the resolution.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

3.         Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Hospice, Program Services - Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained to the committee that this is routine authorization for program services.  Ms. Tytler discussed that the first portion of the resolution is contracts to pay and the second portion is for payment to us.  Ms. Gailor stated that we need contracts for all, both portions of the resolution.  Mr. Clark questioned Northwoods on the resolution.  Ms. Gailor explained that we currently have patients there under Hospice care.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

4.         Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Hospice, Program Services - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is for out of area services.  She further added that when patients are under Hospice care and travel out of the area we contract for services where the patient is.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

5.         Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Hospice, Contractual Services - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee.  Ms. Gailor explained to committee members that this is for a contract with an auditor to complete a comprehensive annual Medicare Cost Report.  She added that the department had inquired with other CPA firms in the Cortland County area but none were interested and therefore they went with Caryn Hughes.  Mr. Williams inquired as to the length of time Caryn Hughes has done this.  Ms. Gailor stated, approximately three years.  The committee further discussed the need for a CPA to conduct these audits and the fact that they can not be done in house.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

6.          Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Environmental Health, Hearing Officer Services - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Ms. Gailor discussed the length of the contract.  Mr. Van Donsel discussed the length of the contract should not be over two years.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

7.          Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Environmental Health, Veterinary Services – Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is primarily for rabies programs used to process dead animals and destroy remains.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

8.          Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department, Children With Special Needs Program, Local Department of Social Services - Mr. McKee moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Committee members discussed this resolution covering a two year contract.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

9.         Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department, Healthy Heart Program - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that this is an annual grant and the money has already been put in the budget.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

10.        Authorize Agreement/Accept Funds, Health Department, Public Preparedness and Response to Bio Terrorism - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Gailor explained that this program started August 31, 2005 and the department is just receiving the grant money.  One-half of a person’s salary is paid from this grant.  She added that the amount of money received is equal to the amount of money spent; many purchase have been made already yet still many more items are needed.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

11.        Authorize Agreements, Health Department, Jacobus Center For Reproductive Health, Auditor, Ahlers, Interpreter, and Consultants and or Facilitators - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  Ms. Price inquired about the department having a list of people that are bilingual.  Ms. Gailor expressed that the department has this list and shares it among other departments.  She added that some of the information actually came from other departments, so they have been sharing.  Ms. Tytler asked for account numbers and dates to be inserted into the contract.  Mr. Williams inquired about the length of time the department has used the auditor.  Ms. Gailor stated that she believed it was over six years.  Mr. Williams asked if this could be done in house.   Mr. Clark, Ms. Price, Mr. Cornell, and Mr. McKee voted in favor; Ms. Tytler and Mr. Williams were opposed; resolution adopted.

 

Health Department and Mental Health Department

 

12.       Authorize Agreements, Health Department and Mental Health Department, SCHC Total Care Inc. - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.  The committee discussed SCHC and the offering of a contract.  This authorizes both, Mental Health Department and Health Department, to enter into contracts.  Mr. Clark stated that this allows billing for services provided.  Mr. Williams asked for SCHC, the acronym to be spelled out in the resolution.  Ms. Tytler asked about the length of the contracts.  Ms. Gailor and Mr. Van Donsel stated that they did not object to it running through December 31, 2007.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted

 

Mental Health Department

 

13.       Amend Budget/Amend Agreement, Mental Health Department, Catholic Charities - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee.  Ms. Medeiros stated that this was to authorize the Chairman to extend the contract with Catholic Charities for the housing program.  She added that state notification came late in the year.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted. 

 

14.       Amend Budget/Amend Agreement, Mental Health Department, Family Support Services - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  Ms. Medeiros explained to the committee that all this funding was not used in 2005 and the state has allowed Mental Health until March 31, 2006 to use up the remaining funding.  It is primarily used for youth programs.  Ms. Tytler questioned what will happen when the money runs out.  Ms. Medeiros stated that fewer youth will be served.  Ms. Tytler inquired further about the future impact this will have on youth no longer being served.  Ms. Medeiros stated that it is difficult to tell because youth no longer being served under this program could fall under a different program and as a result someone else may be removed from that program.  stated that this was to authorize the Chairman to extend the contract with Catholic Charities for the housing program.  She added that state notification came late in the year.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted

 

15.        Appoint Member, Community Services Board and Mental Health Subcommittee - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Ms. McKee.  Mr. Cornell made a motion to table this item; seconded by Ms. Ms. Price.  Ms. Medeiros expressed to the committee vacancies to two other boards and stated that she is looking for anyone who desires to help fill those vacancies.  The committee discussed the vacancies and where to send names.  Chairman Brown stated that names/recommendations should go through Mental Health department.   Mr. Cornell withdrew his motion to table this item.  Ms. Price withdrew her motion also.  Mr. Clark pulled the item from the agenda.  No further action was taken.

 

Mr. Van Donsel left the meeting at 10:07, prior to discussion beginning on agenda item no. 16. 

Committee members were informed that Mr. Van Donsel has a conflict with agenda item no. 16 and that Mr. Fran Casullo will be handling it for the County attorney’s Office.

 

16.            Authorize Agreement, Renewal of Lease For Mental Health Department Offices at

1-5 Clayton Avenue, Cortland, New York - Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Tytler.  Ms. Tytler asked that committee discuss this contract.  Mr. Schrader stated that it is the same lease as before with the amendment for Buildings & Grounds.  He added that this is for five years with an early out provision.  Mr. Schrader added that this contract for a longer period of time than he would like but the owner originally wanted it for a longer lease and they have settled for five years.  Ms. Tytler questioned sub-leasing the building if need to be.  Mr. Capanzano pointed out that in paragraph 13 of the lease there was a provision for some sort of sub-leasing.  Mr. Schrader further stated that the owner originally wanted a ten year lease and the county asked for a two year lease.  They reluctantly settled at five years.  Ms. Tytler inquired about the time frame for using the Tobacco Securitization Program money.  Mr. Schrader stated that a committed plan of 15% of the money needed to be done within 90 days.  Mr. Capanzano stated that historically it would be advantageous to all involved to allow enough time to secure space on a short-term basis for a look at the future long term.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted

 

Mr. McKee stated that he has been concerned for over a year and a half about loosing Nurses and the Nursing shortage.  He offered help in recruiting qualified nurses.  Ms. Price agreed and wants to make sure everyone is doing all they can in regards to this.

 

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

1.         Mental Health Department Revenue Report for 2005 – Charlie Capanzano/Linda Medeiros – Ms. Medeiros distributed and discussed a 2005 Unaudited Report and how the department made out during 2005.  Mr. Capanzano discussed constantly looking at ways to fully utilize staff. 

 

Ms. Gailor asked to add discussion about the NYSNA Negotiations to the agenda for discussion.  Committee Members did not object.

 

2.         New York State Nursing Association (NYSNA) Negotiations – Jackie Gailor – Ms. Gailor informed the committee of upcoming negotiations with NYSNA.  She further added that the nursing shortage is beginning to affect patients.  Ms. Tytler discussed a sub-committee regarding prioritizing the nursing shortage.  Ms. Gailor discussed reasons some reasons for the shortage here in Cortland County. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:32 am.

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