Approved 6/14/04

HUMAN SERVICES

June 7, 2004

Minutes

Members Present: Curtis Hertel, Lisa Dedden, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Andy Schor, John Nevin and Board Chairperson Celentino

Members Absent: Mike Severino

Others Present: John Neilsen, Dean Sienko, Randy Marwede, Mark Grebner and Matt Krone

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Hertel at 7:01 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S . Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the May 17, 2004 Minutes

The Minutes were approved as submitted. Absent: Comms. Severino and Weatherwax-Grant

Additions to the Agenda

• Item pulled until next Human Services meeting.

Limited Public Comment: None

MOVED BY COMM. NEVIN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

• Health Department
• Resolution Appointing Jorge Gomez, M.D. as Deputy Medical Examiner and to Authorize a Contract
• Resolution to Authorize a Public Health Nursing Letter of Understanding with the Ingham Intermediate School District
• Resolution to Authorize an Amendment to the Administrative Services Agreement with the Ingham Health Plan Corporation
• Resolution to Honor the Service of F. Robert Godbold
• Resolution to Express Appreciation for Interim Medical Direction

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent Comms.: Severino and Weatherwax-Grant

MOVED BY COMM. NEVIN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent Comms: Severino and Weatherwax-Grant

Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that the Financial Implication section of the Staff Review sheet for agenda item 4c should state $125,000 instead of $25,000 in the third paragraph.

• Appointments
• Board of Health Interviews

The Committee interviewed the following applicants for two vacancies on the Board of Health:

Jacqueline Day

Brian Hurtekant

Lawrence Chadzynski

June Morse

The Committee will not take action on this matter until the remaining three applicants have been interviewed at the next meeting.

(Comm. Weatherwax-Grant arrived during the interviews.)

• Veterans Affairs Committee Appointment

MOVED BY COMM. NEVIN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DEDDEN, TO RECOMMEND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ANNE THOMPSON TO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Severino

• Veteran Affairs - Resolution Requesting Governor Granholm and the Michigan Legislature to Provide More Appropriate Funding for "Public Act 245 of 1935 - Education of Children of Veterans"

Comm. Schor stated he is hesitant to ask the legislature for funding without indicating what will be reduced on the flip side. The request should be more specific. Mr. Marwede explained the request has been detailed on the State level. There is momentum at the Capitol and Veterans Affairs want that to keep moving forward. Comm. Schor further explained that the language in the Resolution does not address the intent of Mr. Marwede's memorandum.

The Committee discussed this matter further. Comm. Schor asked if this Resolution could wait until next week in order to give the Controller's Office an opportunity to redraft it to be more specific. Mr. Marwede stated this would not be a problem.

The Committee concurred that the Resolution should be redrafted to be more specific regarding the Veteran Affair's intentions.

• Commissioner Grebner - Discussion on the Ingham County Health Department Smoking Regulation

Comm. Grebner distributed copies of his updated Amendment to the County's Smoking Regulation. He explained that the Regulation, as amended by himself, would not apply to buildings which are already non-smoking facilities. The Amended Regulation would only apply to places that permit smoking and that are required to have a designated non-smoking area.

Businesses that are required to have non-smoking areas, would have to submit an application to the County's Health Department for an operating permit. Said application shall set forth measures to protect air quality in non-smoking sections of the establishment. Section 1005A, subsections B and C detail the measures and procedures by which applicants must use to protect air quality in the non-smoking areas. This issue is addressed in detail in Section 1010A, subsection B (4 and 5).

Comm. Grebner stated Section 1016, Subsection C (1-5) explain how the amended Regulation would be phased in over time. He reviewed this information for the Committee. He further explained that his proposed amended Regulation attempts to give a meaning to what a non-smoking section is in a bar or restaurant. The County has an important role in protecting its residents with marginal health concerns from second-hand smoke.

The Committee discussed Comm. Grebner's proposed amendments to the Regulation. Comm. Dedden stated she spent many hours researching this issue during the past few years. She explained that it is settled law that counties do not have the authority to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The County was tremendously discouraged from including bowling alleys and bingo halls in the Regulation. Further, she stated the County's resources are limited and she does not want to see them wasted on actions which will be over-turned by the State.

Comm. Dedden explained that the County's responsibility extends to things which are not evident to the consumers, such as water temperature, temperatures of refrigerators and freezers, etc. Comm. Grebner stated his proposed amendments to the Regulation would not prohibit smoking.

Chairperson Hertel stated he would forward Comm. Grebner's proposed amendments to the County Attorney for review. Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she shares Comm. Grebner's concerns. However, until scientific evidence is presented regarding the impact of second-hand smoke on people and youth, she could not support the amendments. The Committee indicated that this data has been provided in the past by various organizations. Chairperson Hertel stated that a clear line probably has not yet been established.

Comm. Nevin concurred with Comms. Dedden and Weatherwax-Grant. However, he explained that people have their own individual rights to patronize establishments which do or do not allow smoking.

(Note: page 10; Section C2 of the proposed Amended Regulation - the $70,000 amount should be $800,000)

• Human Services Committee - Resolution Opposing House Bills 5006 and 5276-5278

MOVED BY COMM. SCHOR, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSE BILLS 5006 AND 5276-5278.

Comm. Nevin asked what specific medical procedures or services are people talking about which lead to the House Bills. Dr. Sienko stated there are several services and procedures. Chairperson Hertel stated the Bills, in regard to abortion, would not apply to the County because the County does not perform abortions. However, there are many other services which effect the sexual health of the County residents. The County has a responsibility to protect the health of its residents. Chairperson Hertel stated the Bills could hurt the Ingham County Health Department.

Comm. Nevin stated the challenge would be to schedule specific services to be performed when sensitive health care providers are not on duty.

Dr. Sienko stated he would much rather see the County focus on the delivery of services, not oppositions to the delivery of its services.

MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Nevin voting NO. Absent: Comm. Severino

• Ingham County Medical Care Facility Resolution - info to be distributed at meeting.

This matter was pulled from tonight's agenda. It will be placed on this Committee's next agenda.

• Board Referrals
• Letter from the Department of Environmental Quality Regarding Recently Enacted Solid Waste Legislation
• Letter and Resolution from Delhi Charter Township Regarding a Request to Create Time-of-Sale Inspection for Abandoned Wells and On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems

The Board Referrals were received and placed on file.

Announcements: None

Public Comment: None

The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff