1. Local County Government and the Board of Health Relationship

2. County Board Functions
Involve, represent, and be accountable to the public
Provide services
Make budget and levy taxes
Set policies
Strategic planning (mission, purpose, vision)
Collaborate to ensure the needs of the population are met
Cooperate with other governments
Focus on long-term rather than past or short-term
Todd

3. Committee Functions
Complete the preliminary work on policies before taken up by the full board
Collaborative policy oversight for departments
Review and make budget recommendations
Draft ordinances and resolutions
Todd

4. Committee Chair Appointed Set the agenda Presides at meetings
Makes reports and recommendations
Todd

5. How the Board Makes Policy
Plans
Budgets
Ordinances and Resolutions
Todd/Bonnie

6. Plans: Comprehensive plan Other common plans Strategic Plans
Capital improvement plans
A parks plan
Transportation plan
Etc.
Todd

7. Budget What services will be funded How will they be funded
What level will they be funded
Todd/Bonnie

8. Ordinances
Local law
Enforced by the officials of the governmental body
Intended to be a permanent part of the governmental code
Ordinances can also be regulatory:
Licensing
Zoning
Peace and Order
Todd

9. Resolutions Usually less permanent, temporary in character
Used to grant special privileges, state policy, express opinions, or communicate with other governmental bodies
Resolution may be used to adopt a budget
WOTFV Resolution, Health in All Policies

10. Forms of County Government
County Executive
County Administrator
County Administrative Coordinator
Bonnie

11. County Executive Chief executive officer Elected by the citizens
“Coordinates and directs all administrative and management functions”
Appoints and supervises department heads subject to county board confirmation
Appoints members to boards and commissions subject to board confirmation
Submits the annual budget
Todd

12. County Executive Veto Ordinances and resolutions
Appropriation in whole or part
County board can override with 2/3 vote
Todd

13. County Administrator
Counties having a population of < 500,000 may create the office of County Administrator
By resolution of the board, or
By petition and referendum and
Appointed by the majority vote of the board
Todd

14. County Administrator Chief administrative offer of the county
Coordinate and direct all administrative and management functions of the county government
Appoints and supervises department heads
Appoints members to boards and commissions, where statutes give this authority.
Answers to the county board of supervisors
Submits annual budget
Appointed solely on merit, no weight given to residence, political affiliation, etc.
Todd

15. Administrative Coordinator
Similar to county administrator but does not have appointment authority and “responsible for coordinating” rather than “coordinates and directs”
County must designate an Administrative Coordinator
Todd

16. Staff vs. County Board Vastly different responsibilities
Board supervisors serve in a primarily legislative role
Officials, department heads and staff serve in an operational and advisory role
Staff: Education, experience, background checked, professionally current
Board: Elected by the citizens, local connection
Bonnie

17. Staff Roles and Responsibilities
Staff has an obligation to carry out their duties in a manner consistent with the policy direction of the board and executive/administrator
Staff makes recommendations and give professional advice. They generally do NOT make policy other than internal department policies as authorized
Staff’s primary duty during meetings is to be prepared to answer professional questions and present professional reports to enable elected officials to make informed decisions
Staff should be prepared to offer alternatives and recommendations as needed
A key to staff success is to remain “politically savvy while politically neutral”
Bonnie

18. Board of Health Consists of not more than 9 members
County board members along with some non-county citizens
At least three of the members not elected officials or employees; have a demonstrated interest or competence in the field of public health or community health
Good faith effort made to appoint a registered nurse and a physician
Shall reflect the diversity of the community
Members confirmed by the governing body
Bonnie

19. Local Boards of Health Powers and Duties
Govern the city or county health department
Assure the enforcement of state public health statutes and public health rules of the department as prescribed for a Level I local health department
Assure that its local health department is a Level I, Level II, or Level III local health department
May adopt those regulations, for its own guidance and for the governance of the local health department, that it considers necessary to protect and improve public health
Bonnie

20. Local Boards of Health-Power and Duties
May be no less stringent than, and may not conflict with, state statute and rules of the department
Meet at least quarterly
Assess public health needs and advocate for the provision of reasonable and necessary public health services
Assure that measures are taken to provide an environment in which individuals can be healthy
Review and make budget recommendations
Bonnie

21. Local Boards of Health-Powers and Duties
Develop policy and provide leadership that fosters local involvement and commitment, that emphasizes public health needs and that advocates for equitable distribution of public health resources and complementary private activities commensurate with public health needs
In counties with a single county health department the County Executive or County Administrator may assume powers and duties of the board of health
Board of Health shall be only a policy-making body
Bonnie

22. Other State Statutes Open Meetings Law
Advanced notice of meetings; meetings open and accessible to the public; limited closed sessions
Definition of meetings; walking quorum
Public Record Laws
“presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of government business.
State and Local Codes of Ethics/Conflicts of Interest
Todd

23. Health Officer Roles
Provide leadership during a public health threat or emergency
Notifying the public about health risks
Taking necessary legal actions that may include isolating those carrying infectious diseases
Charged with administration of local health department
Responsible for hiring employees to carry out agency functions
Bonnie/Todd

24. Health Officer Role Public health resource for the county
Quarantining people or places when a health threat is suspected
Establish relationships with key entities:
Board of Health
Medical Community
Media
General public
Bonnie

25. Communication between Health Officer and Board Members
Keep the board members informed and engaged (example-invite them to regional WALHDAB meetings, explain things one on one to them, send them correspondence when something is new or changed)
Keep in contact with the chairperson to keep her informed on anything new and emerging in public health
New board members, establish one on one meetings with them if your governmental structure allows for this.
Board of Health of the Year in 2018

26. Communication Between Health Officer and Board of Health Chairperson
Agenda items for board meeting (ask for chairperson’s input for the agenda)
Be quick to respond
Be thorough in your response and give the chair evidence-based facts
Typically touch base once a month— depends on that person’s preference
Add about Mary’s role on state WALHDAB board. She is a retired RN

27. When all members of the county structure function within their roles, it is like a well-oiled machine. (Talk about our structure and how it works well—and sometimes not so well)