Board of Health

City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 17, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Meeting Call to Order – 5:45 PM Board President Christine Harris read the following Sunshine Law: This meeting, which conforms to the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act, Chapter 231, and Public Law of 1975 is a regular meeting of the City of East Orange Board of Health. Notices have been filed with our official newspaper, with the City Clerk and posted on regular bulletin boards. The public is permitted to participate at this meeting. After the roll call, it was determined there was a quorum to convene the meeting. Board Members Present: Christine Harris, President Tobbia M. Corbitt -absent Horace H. Henry Deanna Phillips Derrick Samuels-arrived at 5:58pm Board of Health Counsel: Shantika Dorsey, Attorney assigned to the Board of Health Health Department Staff: Victor Kuteyi, Health Officer Karen Johnson-LaRussa, Nurse, Community Health Educator Uchechukwu Igwe, Student Intern, Montclair State University, Masters in Public Health program Jo-Ann Mills, Administrative Assistant to Health Officer Victor Kuteyi Mayoral Staff: Ajah Baldwin, Office of the Mayors-left early due to scheduling conflict Guest Speakers: Dr. Raymond Brock-Murray, Counseling Therapist, The Five Before Five Foundation Robyn and Timothy Brantley, Brantley Brothers Moving Company, Founders Pink Out the Oranges (Breast Cancer Walk) Public in attendance: None Approval of June 19, 2018 Meeting Minutes: Approval unanimous Guest Speaker Presentations: Dr. Raymond Brock-Murray, from the The Five Before Five Foundation presentated information about the services that are provided that is: it is a non-profit mental health organization whose goal is to raise awareness and increase service access within communities of color throughout. pg. 1 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 17, 2018 MEETING MINUTES The foundation offers workshops and counseling services that are affordable and readily accessible. Dr. Brock-Murray expressed an interests in partnering with the City of East Orange and the East Orange School District. Ms. Phillips informed Dr. Brock-Murray that she can provide to him information to contact the East Orange School District. Board members expressed interests and well wishes on future collaborations in the City of East Orange. Robyn Brantley from Brantley Brothers movers, presented to the Board information about the upcoming Fifth Annual Pink Out of the Oranges Breast Cancer Walk which will take place on October 13, 2018. The walk is in collaboration with Speak Life Enterprises, Angels NJ, City of East Orange, and the City of Orange. She explained the history of the walk as it was an idea between Mr. Brantley and herself after attending a multitude of walks for years in Newark. In addition, Mrs. Brantly shared her families experiences with breast cancer. She also informed the Board that all doanations from the walk are given to the American Cancer Society and this years aim is to raise over 15K dollars. Mrs. Brantley expressed her hopes to see everyone in attendance at the meeting at the walk. Mr. Kuteyi, Health Officer – Updates: Sanitation Code Updates HO Kuteyi reported that the Sanitation Codes are completed, including corrections. HO Kuteyi added that he will be comparing the Sanitation Codes to the template that Mr. Richard Pysanki, Legal Research Aide, is going to provide for comparison. He added that he will also be contacting Bloomfield and other surrounding municipalities for comparisons as well. President Harris inquired about the current sanitation codes in East Orange. Attorney Dorsey stated to the Board the current sanitation codes are outdated which is why HO Kuteyi has revised the codes. Health and Education Committee Attorney Dorsey and HO Kuteyi explained to the Board that changes occurred within City Council which may affect the BOH. President Harris asked the Recording Clerk to find out if there is a change to the Council Liaison to the BOH. Attorney Dorsey added there was no quorum for the Health and Education Committee, therefore, the status of the BOH has not changed to date. President Harris expressed the frustration of the Boards’ status impairing necessary legislation pertaining to Public Health matters. Chapter 14A. Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Councils Brief discussion by the Board and Attorney Dorsey related to the duties and responsibilities, as delineation by the State for the HD and BOH. Health Department Staff: Nurse Karen Johnson-LaRussa Nurse Karen reported that Ms. Iqwe has been an intern with the Health Department since May 2018 and is helping with various project. Nurse LaRussa added that she is on the committees for Pink Out of The Oranges (Breast Cancer walk), Meet, Move, and Mingle (Community Health and Wellness Fair), and Senior Service Men’s Health Conference (scheduled for October 1, 2018). Nurse LaRussa stated that she is working on a project to have Municipal Campus become Smoke-free. She informed the pg. 2 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 17, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Board that more students are seeking to do internships with the Health Department. She added that Dionne Warwick Elementary School will have their health fair in October and Cicely Tyson Schools will have their health fairs in the fall also. Nurse LaRussa reported that she hopes that East Orange Campus High School will have their Sexually Transmitted Educational health fair in the upcoming school year with the addition of the student interns making the information relatable for the students. Open Discussion: BOH Community Forums on Public Health Issues. Ms. Phillips presented various topics to fellow board members to be discussed. Board members had a brief discussion on the topics and decided to use the summer hiatus to plan and focus on the topics that they will present to the public. Board members agreed to set-up a table at various events in the City to inform the public about the role of the Board of Health, Department of Health Services, and garner interest in the BOH Community Forums. At the conclusion of Board business, President Harris adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, Sala Small Board Clerk pg. 3