Health Committee
September 13, 2006 - 7:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Members: Sean Clark, Chairman; Sandy Price, Vice Chairman; Mike McKee, Carol Tytler, Ron VanDee and Tom Williams
Others Present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Richard C. Van Donsel, County Attorney; Jackie Gailor, Director of Public Health; Kelly May, Health Department Intern; Michael Kilmer, Director of Administrative Services, Mental Health Department; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard
Absent:
Larry Cornell (excused)
Mr. Clark called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m.
Mr. McKee made the motion to
adopt the minutes of the August 8, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Williams.
All members present voting in
favor, minutes approved as corrected.
RESOLUTONS:
Health Department
1.
Authorize
Agreements/Accept Funds/Administration/Special Programs Breast & Cervical
Cancer Early Detection Program – Mr.
Williams moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. Ms. Gailor explained that this funding is to be used to
provide services for women for breast cancer screening and treatment.
She added that this is additional funding to the grant specifically to
be used for services. All members
present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
Mental Health Department
2.
Abolish/Create Senior Account Clerk/Medical Services Clerk – Ms.
Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price.
Ms. Tytler inquired if this position is currently vacant.
Mr. Kilmer explained that it would be vacant as of December 15, 2006.
He further explained that this is a position at Horizon House and
explained why Horizon House would be better served with a Medical Services
Clerk. All members
present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
Items 3, 4 and 5 were added to the agenda at the meeting.
3.
Authorize
Agreement/Accept Funds – Indoor Radon Grant – Health Department
– Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Tytler. Ms. Gailor explained that this is for another year of funding
for testing. Ms. Gailor further
explained that this is to be used for testing and to encourage remediation if
necessary. She also discussed
that the focus is going to be on landlords.
All members
present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
Committee
members, Mr. Van Donsel and Ms. Gailor further discussed radon testing and
remediation.
4.
Authorize Agreement –
Laser Printer Maintenance – Health Department
– Ms. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. McKee. Ms. Gailor explained that the printer was purchased in 2002
and is used for a variety of tasks. The
committee discussed a past resolution which was passed for printer maintenance
and clarified that it was for different printers and did not include the
maintenance of this particular printer. All
members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
5.
Approval to Reallocate
Salary – Early Intervention Service Coordinator – Health Department –
Mr. Schrader informed the committee that he had requested this resolution be
pulled from the agenda and added that it is a personnel matter.
No further action was
taken by the committee.
DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
Mental Health
1. Family Child and Clinic Plus State imitative – [correction to the title noted on the Health Committee Agenda dated September 13, 2006, Family Child and Clinic Plus State imitative should read Family Child and Clinic Plus State initiative] – Mr. Kilmer briefly explained the Family Child and Clinic Plus State initiative to the committee. He went on to explain the two funding functions of the initiative. The first being funding for a mass paper/pencil screening through out schools in grades 5 and 9 as an attempt to identify children at a younger age in need of Mental Health Clinic services. The second is an additional funding incentive of $50 per child for the clinical intake process in the Mental Health Clinic. He explained that an application needed to be submitted by September 1 and he has done that. Mr. Kilmer further explained that the application could be rescinded if the committee desires it to be. Ms. Price expressed the need for additional mental health services for children. Ms. Price discussed a situation she was aware of personally. Committee members inquired as to why grades 5 and 9 were chosen. Mr. Kilmer expressed that originally it had been discussed to begin testing at grade 4 and the consensus of those involved was that grade 4 students were over tested already with all the state mandated tests already in place. He went on to explain that grade 5 students do not have the state mandated tests. He further discussed that grade 9 was chosen because that is an age/grade that has been identified as having first suicidal ideations and depression. He further discussed that he had met with representatives from the different school districts. Ms. Price expressed that if the programs are provided in Mental Health for children then this should assist in the Social Services budget. Ms. Tytler discussed that the screening program to identify children in need of services has been discussed before the Community Services Board and they are in agreement with this. She added that Mr. Capanzano and Mr. Kilmer have worked on the figures to provide the needed programs for the children once the screenings are complete. Mr. Kilmer expressed they believe they can provide the services. Mr. Kilmer further discussed this. Ms. Tytler explained that this initiative is about screening for the need for services not the actually funding for those services. Ms. Price explained that there are cases that she is aware of that the child cannot receive the needed services and these situations can escalate into bigger problems. Ms. Tytler additionally explained that the screenings would be staggered throughout the different school districts to avoid a huge influx of referrals all at once. Mr. Kilmer informed the committee that he would know if the plan has been accepted by October 1, 2006. Ms. Price complimented Mr. Kilmer for applying for the grant and stated that this is another example of why it is a good idea to have a County Administrator and complimented Mr. Schrader.
2. Monthly expense, revenue and wait list report – Mr. Kilmer provided the committee members with monthly expense, revenue and wait list reports. Ms. Price inquired about the PSY only being at 40%. Mr. Kilmer explained that this will be all that we get this year and further explained that this will not be a problem. He additionally discussed a contract with Social Services that was lost. Committee members further discussed different agencies.
3. Departmental Budget Review – Mr. Schrader explained that he had left copies of departmental budget requests in all Legislators mailboxes. He asked input as to how the Committee would like to proceed with review of departmental budget requests. He explained that they could do a formal budget review and hold an additional meeting to do so or conduct an informal review by reviewing them on their own and contacting either himself or the Department Head with any questions. Ms. Price inquired about new things that are in the budget proposals this year. Mr. Schrader and Mr. Kilmer explained that there are new things in the Mental Health Department Budget this year and briefly expanded on new programs. Mr. Kilmer and Mr. Schrader further discussed a review of the Mental Health Clinic and the clinical capacity in the clinic being increased without increasing staff. Mr. Williams inquired if all departmental budget requests are in Legislator’s mailboxes. Mr. Schrader explained that a few are not but will be later in the week. He further discussed that the District Attorney’s budget request has not been received and that department has not requested an extension. He further discussed that this is a pattern for that department. It was the consensus of the Committee members to conduct an informal review. Committee members briefly discussed the standardization of forms used for the departmental budget requests this year.
Ms. Gailor requested to discuss an agreement concerning breast care health. She briefly explained the background and informed the Committee that there are two surgeons that can provide the service and one of them has refused to include Cortland County as an additionally insured on their insurance. Ms. Gailor discussed that this has gone before the County Attorney and his advise was not to sign the contract and find another surgeon or to bring it to the Committee. Ms. Tytler inquired as to why the surgeon does not want to adhere to the County’s request. Ms. Gailor explained that the County has not asked for any additional insurance, only to add the County as an additional insured on their current policy. She additionally requested that the surgeon provide some response in writing so that she could bring it to this Committee; she has not received anything from him. She further explained that without this surgeon this would limit the choices for services to be provided and added that she is concerned that people may go without services. The Committee discussed liability. Mr. Van Donsel informed the Committee that by adding Cortland County as an additional insured on the current policy would assist the County in covering future defense costs, to a point, if that became necessary. Ms. Tytler expressed that the County has made great stride in the last year and a half to make certain that it is covered in the area of liability and further expressed that the County needs to continue to be certain that it is covered. The Committee members present agreed. Ms. Tytler suggested attempting to locate another surgeon in another neighboring community. Ms. Gailor explained that they could do that but typically when referrals are made from an individual’s primary care physician they are made to a local physician.
Ms. Gailor additionally informed the Committee that there has been an outbreak of Pertussis, or more commonly known as “whooping cough,” in Cortland County. She added that this has been a problem in Tompkins County for two or three year now. She further discussed that over the summer an individual was diagnosed with Pertussis and it has been determined that the individual was in contact with another individual from Tompkins County. She further discussed immunizations against Pertussis and that the concern is now that the children are back in school and with this being a communicable disease with a 21 day incubation period that it will spread. Ms. Gailor further discussed that it can begin with a cough and the Health Department is encouraging the public to consult with their physicians. Chairman Brown inquired if School Nurses in the area were made aware of this. Ms. Gailor explained that a letter has gone out to School Nurses. Ms. Gailor further explained that the Health Department wants to get the word out and went to discuss the symptoms can be slight to sever. She did mention that it is not frequent but this disease can end in death. Ms. Gailor wants to encourage anyone who has been exposed to whooping cough to consult his or her physician.
Ms. Gailor updated the Committee about new Nurses in the department. She explained that they have two nurses in orientation, one that starts tomorrow and several others that have finished orientation since the signing of the NYSNA contract. Ms. Price inquired if needs are being met. Ms. Gailor explained that they are and expanded that during the Labor Day weekend they needed to push to meet the needs. Ms. Tytler inquired about how many vacancies remain. Ms. Gailor explained that two or three full time vacancies remain.
Ms. Price made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter; seconded by Mr. Williams. The committee went into Executive Session at 8:16 am.
The committee came out of Executive Session at 8:57 am and had nothing to report.
Mr. Clark adjourned the meeting at 8:58 am.