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DRAFT

Eastern Highlands Health District

Board of Directors Meeting

Coventry Town Hall – Annex

 

Thursday, June 18, 2009

 

 

 

Chair Elizabeth Paterson called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.   

 

Present:  E. Paterson, D. Walsh, D. Cameron,  M. Kurland,  S. Werbner, T. Tully, J.
Elsesser, J. Stille, M. Hart, P. Schur

 

Staff Present:  R. Miller, Dr. Dardick, M. Remy, J. Polhemus, C. Trahan

 

Absent:  F. Daniels,  R. Fletcher (Alternate), D. Cianci (Alternate),  C. Anderson (Alternate), L. Eldridge (Alternate),   S. Chace (Alternate),  Andover Appointee (Vacant), J. Luiz

 

Public Hearing – Proposed FY 09/10 Fee Schedule: 

 

E. Paterson called the public hearing to order.

 

R. Miller read the public hearing notice into the record. This notice is  attached to the minutes.  One written communication was received from Clark Stearns First Selectman from the Town of Scotland.  Mr. Stearns’ communication was read into the record and is attached to these minutes.

 

Public comments:  Roberta Wilmont, market master for the Coventry Farmers Market stated she was pleased with work being done on Fees of Farmers Market.  Bryan O’Hara, market master for the  Storrs Farmers Market stated negotiated fee structure is satisfactory. 

 

E. Paterson called the public hearing to a close at 4:40 p.m.

 

Approval of April 16, 2009 Minutes:  A MOTION was made by D. Walsh, seconded by S. Werbner, to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2009 meeting as presented.  P. Schur, J. Stille and J. Elsesser abstained.  The MOTION was PASSED unanimously. 

 

Public Comments - none

 

Old Business: 

 

  1. Proposed FY 09/10 Fee Schedule:  R. Miller reported that the primary reason to set a public hearing for a proposed fee schedule is to provide  an option to the Board to increase fees  due to recent fiscal challenges, which include  possible per capita grant funding decreases and estimated decrease in  service fee revenues.   R. Miller reported two important things have changed since  this public hearing date was set: 1.  step increases to staff salaries were frozen by the Board for FY 09/10  and 2.  EHHD received confirmation that the BT Grant will be received and available to backfill salaries and benefits.  These circumstances may result in a total estimated savings of  $26,000 in salaries and benefits for FY 09/10. 

 

P. Schur reported the Incremental Increase Options sheet for fees is not accurate .  He suggested producing a document   that is correct for public hearing.

 

 

 

J. Elsesser recommends that the Board defer this action until more is known about the  state budget.   He recommends the  finance committee  meet to recommend a fee schedule for Board consideration. 

 

A motion to adopt the proposed fee schedule as warned for FY 09/10 was MOVED  by J. Elsesser, seconded by J. Stille.  A discussion ensued regarding the Finance committee to revise fee schedule for a second public hearing.

 

The MOTION FAILED unanimously. 

By consensus of the full board a public hearing date is set for August 20, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. at the Coventry Town Hall Annex to hear public comments regarding a proposed EHHD fee schedule and to authorize the Finance Committee to develop said fee schedule.

 

New Business:

 

  1. Proposed Fee Schedule for Local Farmers Market Food Vendor:  R. Miller reported that at the direction  of Board Chair E. Paterson, selected EHHD staff, board members and markets masters form an Ad Hoc Committee to develop a proposed fee schedule for food vendors at a farmers market.  The committee completed their  work and the resulting proposed fee schedule will be incorporated into the full suite of proposed service fees for the 8/20/09 public hearing.

 

  1. Appointment of Auditor for FY 08/09 –  J. Elsesser made a MOTION to appoint Blum, Shapiro and Company as the new auditor, seconded by D. Walsh.  The MOTION was PASSED unanimously.  It was noted that the cost of their services will exceed the budget line item by $610.

 

Town  Reports:

 

Bolton – J. Stille reported on sewer project and high school/addition project.

Mansfield – M. Hart reported on 4 Corners (Route 195 & 44) commercial  sewer and water project.

Coventry – J. Elsesser reported on ice cream shop to open, housing blight ordinance, Canyon Falls project and that 6,000 people showed up for latest farmers market.

 

Directors Report:

 

R. Miller reported on the agency’s response to H1N1 influenza.  Much of EHHD time (approximately  2.5 FTE over two weeks) was spent on managing information .  This primarily involved notifying and communicating with area stakeholders. 

 

One consequence of the health district response for the fall flu season may be a lack of staff available to conduct basic services such as soil testing, plan reviews and inspections.

 

R. Miller stated that the health district may need the support of  member towns with the  local response.

Concerns for future include lack of resources to respond if confronted with an increase in illness severity, or a CDC/DPH directive to administer vaccines or dispense antiviral medications to local community. 

 

Dr. Dardick commented that, right now, disease severity associated with H1N1 is mild and questioned the need to develop a vaccine. 

 

The good news is that we do have plans in place, conduct staff and community trainings, and continue to improve preparedness to pandemic influenza.

 

R. Miller reported that Finance Committee accepted the Quarterly Report ending March 31, 2009.

Communications:  No discussion

 

Executive Session:  None

 

A motion was made by P. Schur, seconded by M. Kurland to adjourn the meeting at 6 p.m.  The MOTION was PASSED unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert Miller

Secretary