Board of Health - May 31, 2019 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Friday, May 31, 2019
Present: Chelsey Matter, Robin Nelson, Mike Thorstad, Lyn Telford
Absent: Christopher E. Anderson, MD, Chad Peterson, John Strand
Others Present: Desi Fleming, Melissa Perala, Lori Sall
Chelsey Matter, Chair called the meeting to order.
Approve minutes from April 26, 2019: Mike Thorstad motioned to approve, Robin Nelson seconded. Motion carried.
Budget Report:
Desi Fleming discussed staffing requests. Gladys Ray Shelter covers evening and weekend shifts. FCPH is requesting creation of two new positions. A team lead/shift supervisor for evening and weekends. The annual cost difference would be $6,751.56. There is also a request to have a fifty-cent shift differential. Graveyard and weekend shifts would get an hourly pay increase. Health Promotion would like to have a credentialed (CHES) staff member. This would increase funding opportunities because some grants require this credentialing. Outside of these requests, FCPH would also like budgeted amounts for temporary seasonal salary for particular employee categories in Administration, Harm Reduction, and WIC. For Harm Reduction’s Mobile Outreach Program there is a request for $50,000 to $71,000 budget increase to keep MOP operating as it saves the entire community and City money. Mike Thorstad requested an explanation of how MOP works. Desi Fleming gave a background of MOP, explaining that MOP is deployed as a lower-level response to help individuals in distress with substance abuse issues instead of bringing in police, fire, and ambulance. The downtown community appreciates the assistance and it benefits the whole community as well as the individual. MOP drives the streets looking for individuals who need help and engages the community. They also receive calls for assistance. It is a grant-supported program so it is considered a temporary program.
Harm Reduction is requesting funding for an electronic records system called Spero. It interfaces with the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System). It will give us more funding opportunities because we would have more quantitative documentation about what services we provide. Robin Nelson approves of the software idea but has some concerns about HIPAA. Desi Fleming assured that other area shelters are already using this program, and there seems to be no issues. Harm Reduction also is requesting funding for building space needs (not an increase in capacity). Staff have no room for storage, no office associate to answer calls. The Planning Department is looking at existing building/structures in our community.
Desi provided a snapshot of FCPH. It shows what the focus will be for the next year including getting accredited, maintaining and increasing opioid and methadone addiction assistance, looking at binge drinking in Cass County as well as vaping rates. FCPH is also looking at STI and Hep C rates increasing in our area and making sure we are reaching the people who need to be screened.
Melissa Perala discussed health insurance and step increases across all divisions. FCPH revenue fluctuates due to money from grants varying. Some of the biggest changes will be from changes in insurance rates. Robin Nelson questioned how these fluctuations are dealt with. Desi Fleming assured that as grants come in that Melissa Perala makes budget adjustments. FCPH is applying for some pure revenue grants that would take care of some salary costs but we cannot be assured of receiving those grants. Some of the changes in budget are:
* Decrease in health officer budget (she works less hours so we are able to decrease that cost)
* Harm Reduction division needs to increase building maintenance, add phones, and pharmaceutical supplies
* FCPH needs to increase budget for interpreter services
* Decrease in budget from discontinuing International Immunization Travel program
* Increase for Tobacco prevention
* Increase in reference lab costs
* Decrease in funding for Ryan White from state
* Employee health increased due to labs run for police and fire staff
* Increase for Environmental Health due to expense of mowing and computer services
* Emergency Preparedness increase in grant funding for State-wide response
* WIC increase in grant funding for out of state travel, seminars and equipment repair
West Fargo is rolled into the Cass County numbers in FCPH’s statistics and Mike Thorstad did confirm that West Fargo does not have a Public Health unit and has no plans in the future to have one and the law does not mandate them to have one.
Chelsey Matter mentioned that we did apply for less dollars in grants and Desi Fleming and Melissa Perala mentioned that we did not spend the whole amount of some grants so we did not request as much. We have many restrictions with some funds from grants and we have to keep what the best practice for the community at the forefront when accepting grant funds and their terms.
Mike Thorstad mentioned look more at licensing and possibly more health insurance companies and increasing fees. Desi Fleming said we have been doing checking and that we do cost analysis often. Desi Fleming also mentioned that we now check in advance on the insurance coverage an individual has so they realize they would be liable for the cost if their insurance does not cover at our facility so those bills are no longer being accrued like past years.
The Board of Health will make a motion to support this budget and makes suggestions for the future. The Fargo City Commission votes to approve later this fall. Chelsey made a motion to support and Mike Thorstad and Robin Nelson seconded.
Meeting was adjourned.
Next Meeting: August 16, 2019