Geauga County Board of Health – November 16, 2022
Meeting was held at Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 300, Chardon, OH, on November 16, 2022 at 5 pm. Geauga County Automated Data Processing (ADP) provided a recording of a portion of the meeting, ending the recording at the beginning of the Executive Session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWNkLmDbAtI. Agenda can be found here http://gphohio.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=tul-CHnvOQs%3d&portalid=27
Board members:
Staff in attendance included
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Dr. Jeffrey Cameron - Medical Director/Health Commissioner
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Adam Litke - Administrator
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Alta Wendell - Administration Director, Absent
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Carol Straniero - Population Health Director
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Daniel Lark, Interim Environmental Health Director
County Commissioner in attendance: N/A
OPENING SESSION
INFORMATION SESSION
Environmental Health Update
Population Health Update
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Report was submitted by Carol Straneiro. Two travelers came to Geauga County from an Ebola outbreak area in Uganda. ODH became aware of this on Sunday 11/13. They contacted the Sheriff who contacted Ms. Straneiro. GPH is following established protocols regarding this incident and so far the travelers have no symptoms.
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A board member asked about the RSV virus – there is no data available at the present time.
Administration Division Update (Given by Adam Litke for Alta Wendell)
Finance (Adam Litke)
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The finance report was presented by Mr. Litke.
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Mr. Litke has discussed with the Auditor the creation of two funds, one for a Rainy day fund for unforeseen payroll expenses, and one for Capital projects. Once the Board approves the creation of the funds, the Auditor would submit a request to the State for approval.
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Mr. Litke is requesting additional money for public records requests. He anticipates the health department will spend approximately $150,000 on records requests in 2022. There was a discussion about whether the health department could save money by hiring their own attorney, instead of paying for attorney fees to an outside attorney. The board members stated that they do not know the “end game” of all of the records requests. The requests started around June of 2022. The requestor only has to pay the cost of the jump drive or other physical media that is used to transmit the information. Another possibility that was discussed would be to share a position with the Prosecutor’s office.
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The finance report was approved.
Administrator Update (Adam Litke)
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Mr. Litke presented a Powerpoint overview of the Year in Review for the Health Department: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFRZMb8sBA/qCedDjGclj--O84GIR6MuA/view?utm_content=DAFRZMb8sBA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=homepage_design_menu
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The FSOP inspections are being phased out
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The Operation and Maintenance program for NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems) has been in the works for over a year and is getting started
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Health department fees are the lowest in the Tri-County area
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The move to the new building was completed
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Staff are building good relationships with other Boards, for example the County Commissioners and the Mental Health Board
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Changes to the procedures for lot splits are in the works with the Planning Commission
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Wait times for permits and licenses have been decreased
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A contract was signed for the new wells in Parkman. Susan Weiland in the Prosecutor’s office was a big help in getting everything expedited.
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Audits will now be every 2 years instead of every year
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Updates were made to the website and social media
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Frank Antenucci with IT has been a big help with all of the records requests
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There is an emphasis on staff training
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Staffing changes – there was a lot of turnover, especially among the nursing staff
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GPH is moving into State compliance with public camps and pools
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HB 110 – also brought into compliance (this was not explained in the meeting)
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Most fees were lowered
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Completed the Community Health Needs Assessment and Accreditation
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The Food Servsafe class was brought on-site
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Mr. Litke presented the Temporary 2023 Budget https://www.canva.com/design/DAFSHZ5leiE/vfJ7-JciAMIXWrxd58XqeQ/view?utm_content=DAFSHZ5leiE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=homepage_design_menu#1
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GPH has 23 full time and 1 part time staff, plus the Health Commissioner and 2 contractors
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Estimated 3.1 million revenues, 3.3 million expenses (Mr. Litke stated that this is an overestimate)
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Unknowns – How many O & M inspections of NPDES will there be, and how man FSOP inspections, now that the latter are voluntary.
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The largest costs are employee salaries and fringe benefits (about 60% of the budget)
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GPH is experiencing decreasing grant funding, as there are fewer grants that they qualify for.
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Staffing costs are increasing
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If housing sales decrease, there will be less income from various inspection fees.
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Expected cash carryover is $4.5 million.
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Ms. Brakey asked about an item describing $360,000 for contractors. This includes money paid to the Prosecutor’s office for attorney fees.
OLD BUSINESS
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The third reading of proposed Environmental Health Fees was approved.
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The Administrative Hearing Amendment of Orders for 11389 Clark Rd, Chardon Twp was approved. The amendment was to include the son of the property owner, as he is contributing to the problem.
NEW BUSINESS
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Supplemental Appropriation and cash transfers – this was for an additional $50,000 in legal fees.
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Resolutions 2022-11 and 2022-12 -Repurpose, Rename or Create a fund – this was to transfer $200,000 each from the general fund to two funds that were repurposed from other funds no longer in use. The two new funds are for capital projects, and for a payroll reserve fund. The Board is asking the Auditor to approve these funds. The resolutions were approved.
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2023 Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Contract for $12,500 was approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT
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One member of the public asked about how to change the rules about records requests so that the GPH wouldn’t have to spend so much time and money on these. Also she wondered how to change the rules requiring a Physician to be on the Board. Board members mentioned that these rules are in the ORC and would have to be changed by the State legislature. Dr. Rood mentioned that rules like these may be modernized to include other health professionals in the future. Mr. Litke stated that it is important that the rights of the public are respected, he wouldn’t want to chisel away at those rights by restricting the ability to do records requests.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board went into Executive session to discuss matters of personnel and pending litigation at 6:37pm. Mr. Litke was asked to join them. He stated that there would be no action taken following the Executive session, so this observer left the meeting at this time.
Next regular meeting: Monday, December 19, 2022 at 5 PM at Geauga County Administration Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 300, Claridon, OH
More Information: http://gphohio.org/
Minutes available when posted: http://gphohio.org/Board-of-Health/Board-of-Health-Minutes
Postings available here: https://www.facebook.com/GPHOHIO
Name of Observer : Nina Lalich, submitted 11/21/2022
Reviewed by: Shelly Lewis
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