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Approved Agenda and Minutes of

Orange County · Board of Health
Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Regular meeting Health and human servicesEnvironment and sustainabilityPolice and public safetySchools and educationAppointments and personnelBudget and appropriationsFees and utility ratesHousing and affordabilityWater and sewer

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved VIApproval of September 25, 2024 Minutes Approved without dissent
  2. Approved IX.BAnnual Board of Health Policy Review Approved without dissent

Another 1 item passed on the consent agenda, which is a single motion covering routine business. See the list.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Orange County's dental clinic logged 100 satisfaction-survey responses out of roughly 5,000 appointments this year, and environmental health drew 120 out of more than 10,000 clients served, results the Board of Health reviewed alongside its annual policy manual update. The board tightened its income-verification window from 30 days to 10 and locked in monthly billing statements.

Members also began setting up next year's leadership, with Alison Stuebe agreeing to become chair in 2025, and closed part of the meeting to review Health Director Quintana Stewart's annual performance.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The board approved its consent agenda, its September minutes, and a set of policy manual updates without dissent, then heard survey results from dental, environmental health, and personal health services. Dental collected 100 responses from about 5,000 appointments; environmental health, 120 from more than 10,000 clients; personal health services, 91, with 99% saying they would recommend the clinic. Staff also reported that a data breach that had stopped dental billing for months has been resolved.

Committee updates included word that Orange County deployed 88 staff across eleven agencies on 17 Hurricane Helene missions, seven of them from the health department. Alison Stuebe agreed to stand as board chair for 2025; a vice-chair vote is set for November. The board then closed its meeting for 23 minutes to discuss Health Director Quintana Stewart's annual review with Human Resources.

How the votes went

The board approved the agenda, the September 25 minutes, the consent agenda (financial reports and a corrected typo in the August minutes), and the updated policy manual, all without dissent. Motions to enter and exit closed session, and to adjourn, also carried without dissent. No vote was taken on the 2025 chair and vice-chair slate; that vote is set for November.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (15 on this agenda)
  1. IWelcome New Employees
  2. IIPublic Comment for Items Not on Printed Agenda
  3. IIIBoard Comments
  4. IVPriority Committee Updates
  5. VApproval of the October 23, 2024 Agenda
  6. VIApproval of September 25, 2024 Minutes
  7. VIIConsent Agenda: 1st Quarter Financial Reports and Modified August 28…
  8. VIII.AAnnual Satisfaction Surveys
  9. IX.AChair and Vice-Chair Slate for 2025
  10. IX.BAnnual Board of Health Policy Review
  11. X.ABi-Annual Advisory Board Report
  12. X.BMedia Items
  13. X.CHealth Director's Report
  14. XIClosed Session to Discuss Health Director's Annual Review
  15. XIIAdjournment

Agenda items (15)

Procedural · 5Staff or committee report · 4Minutes approval · 1Consent agenda · 1Presentation · 1Discussion item · 1Resolution · 1Closed session · 1
  1. I Welcome New Employees
    Procedural
    The health director welcomed a new certified medical assistant to the department.
  2. II Public Comment for Items Not on Printed Agenda
    Procedural
    No one signed up to speak.
  3. III Board Comments
    Procedural
    No board comments.
  4. IV Priority Committee Updates
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainabilityHealth and human servicesHousing and affordability
    The Well Rules committee is still gathering groundwater-protection research and meets again in February. The Access to Care committee is planning a photo-based project on barriers to care, open to any Orange County resident 18 or older. The Connections to Community Support committee heard from a Justice United organizer on affordable-housing strategies. The Behavioral Health committee meets next in November.
  5. V Approval of the October 23, 2024 Agenda
    Procedural
    Approved without dissent
  6. VI Approval of September 25, 2024 Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Approved without dissent
  1. VIII.A Annual Satisfaction Surveys
    Presentation Environment and sustainabilityHealth and human services
    Dental Services received 100 survey responses from about 5,000 appointments over the year; most respondents were satisfied but some found urgent appointments hard to schedule. Environmental Health received 120 responses from more than 10,000 clients served, with the clinic's Friday-morning slots and a loaner water-testing chlorination kit drawing positive notice. Personal Health Services received 91 responses, with 99% saying they would recommend the clinic to family or friends, though some cited long waits and asked for an on-site pharmacy.
  2. IX.A Chair and Vice-Chair Slate for 2025
    Discussion item Appointments and personnel
    Vice Chair Alison Stuebe agreed to be nominated as chair for 2025. The board discussed seniority order for vice-chair and a possible gap in its veterinary seat if a member relocates. A vote on both positions is set for the November meeting.
  3. IX.B Annual Board of Health Policy Review
    Resolution Fees and utility ratesHealth and human services
    The board adopted updates to its policy and procedures manual: the income-verification window for fee eligibility shortens from 30 days to 10, the Dental Services minimum fee no longer slides down to the 0% pay level, and billing statements go out monthly rather than within three days of charges posting. Other sections were updated for current state reporting requirements and broken links.
    Approved without dissent
  4. X.A Bi-Annual Advisory Board Report
    Staff or committee report Health and human services
    Staff reported on six months of activity across 30 committees, coalitions and community partners that health-promotion staff regularly attend. Twenty-one touch on behavioral health, five of them tied to the county's tobacco-prevention coordinator. The report is for board planning and is not published publicly.
  5. X.B Media Items
    Staff or committee report Health and human servicesPolice and public safetySchools and education
    The communications manager's media packet covered a measles case in Mecklenburg County, the Formerly Incarcerated Transitions program, the COVID bridge program, recent threats against the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro school systems, and recent rabies cases. She is also working to make the department's website ADA-compliant.
  6. X.C Health Director's Report
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainabilityHealth and human servicesPolice and public safetySchools and educationWater and sewer
    Orange County deployed 88 staff from 11 agencies on 17 Hurricane Helene missions, including 7 from the health department who assisted with onsite wastewater management and emergency sheltering. The first flu death of the season was reported in Mecklenburg County. The health department's new Mobile Dental Unit held its first event at Central Elementary School to strong demand.
  7. XI Closed Session to Discuss Health Director's Annual Review
    Closed session
    The board closed the meeting for 23 minutes to discuss Health Director Quintana Stewart's job description and annual performance review, guided by an Orange County Human Resources program manager.
    Entered and exited closed session without dissent
  8. XII Adjournment
    Procedural
    Adjourned at 9:13 p.m., without dissent

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