Board of Health

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTWOOD BOARD OF HEALTH HELD MARCH 13, 2019 Pres. Beckman called the Meeting to order at 7:41 P.M. Pres. Beckman read the "Open Public Meeting Act" as follows: In compliance with the "Open Public Meeting Act,” P.L. 1975, C 231, the annual notice requirements have been satisfied. The meeting dates for the year were posted on the Borough Web Site on January 10, 2019 and published in The Record on March 11, 2019. A copy of the meeting dates are on file with the Borough Clerk. Present: Mr. Jon Andresen, Mrs. Betsy Beckman, Mrs. Donna Bott, Mr. Dennis Farrell, Ms. Susan McCloskey. Excused Absence: Ms. Maria Costello, Ms. Louise Cue, Dr. Theresa A. Lardaro (Alternate #1), Mr. Lee Tremble. Absent: None. Present: Sharon Blehl-Secretary. Excused Absence: Angela Musella-Health Officer. Present: Beth Dell-Council Liaison, Christopher Montana, Councilmember. Excused Absence: None. Guests: None SALUTE TO THE FLAG Mr. Andresen led those present in the salute to the flag. PUBLIC FORUM Mr. Farrell made a motion to open the floor to the public to discuss any topic; seconded by Mrs. Bott. Voice Vote: Ayes: All present voted in favor. Nayes: None. Abstained: None. Carried. There being no public discussion, Mrs. Bott made a motion to close the public forum; seconded by Mr. Farrell. Voice Vote: Ayes: All present voted in favor. Nayes: None. Abstained: None. Carried. TERMS-COUNCIL LIAISON Beth Dell was appointed Council Liaison to the Board of Health for 2019. Erin Collins was appointed Deputy Council Liaison to the Board of Health for 2019. The Liaison and Deputy Liaison appointments for 2019 were conducted during the February 19, 2019 Mayor and Council meeting. ACTIVITIES REPORTS 1) FEBRUARY HEALTH OFFICER, PUBLIC HEALTH, INVESTIGATOR, REGISTRAR, SECRETARIAL The Board Members reviewed the following Activities Reports for February, 2019 which are on file and available to the public: Administrative and Supporting Services Animal Control Laboratory Services Vital Records Monies Received Environmental Health Communicable Disease Maternal and Child Health Chronic Illness Health Education Nursing Supervision Miscellaneous A discussion was held. Mr. Farrell made a motion that the Activities Reports for February, 2019 be approved; seconded by Mrs. Bott. Voice Vote:  Ayes: All present voted in favor. Nayes: None. Abstained: None. Carried. MINUTES 1) JANUARY 9, 2019 - REGULAR MEETING The January 9, 2019 Minutes will be addressed during the next meeting. 2) FEBRUARY 13, 2019 – REGULAR MEETING The February 13, 2019 Minutes will be addressed during the next meeting. PURCHASE ORDERS Bills for February, 2019 in the amount of $43,566.48 were presented to the Board Members. Mr. Farrell made a motion that the following be accepted for payment; seconded by Ms. McCloskey. Roll Call: Ayes: Mr. Andresen, Mrs. Beckman, Mrs. Bott, Mr. Farrell, Ms. McCloskey. Nayes: None. Abstained: None. FEBRUARY 2019 PURCHASE ORDE RS Bergen County Department of Health 2019 Animal Control Services $15,816.60 Bergen/Passaic Registrars Association 2019 Dues for three Members 75.00 Borough of Hillsdale 2019 Contract Fees 125.00 Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission 1st Quarter 2019 Health Services 23,991.60 Registrar’s Association of New Jersey 2019 Dues for three Members 75.00 Registrar’s Association of NJ Spring Conference 03/26/19 for Three Members 225.00 MGL Printing Solutions Pet License Paper 482.00 Munidex Inc. Software Maintenance Contract Mercantile & Vital 1,256.00 Munidex, Inc. Software Maintenance Contract Pet 452.00 NJ State Department of Health-Vet January 2019 Dog Monies 383.40 W.B. Mason Co., Inc. Office Supplies 684.88 Carried. NEW BUSINESS : 1) Nothing to report. OLD BUSINESS 1) PERMANENT PART-TIME POSITION During the February 13, 2019 Board of Health Meeting the Board made a motion to change Corinne Woodward’s position from a part-time temporary seasonal employee to a permanent part-time position. The Board felt that this was justified based on the steady increase in births from the hospital, the fact that the 2019 Board of Health Salary Budget had not been submitted and increasing the work force has been discussed at numerous Board of Health Meetings since the hospital closed in 2007. HISTORY : Alice Porcello resigned from the Board of Health as a full-time employee on December 31, 2006. Pascack Valley Hospital was preparing to close therefore the Board agreed to hire a part-time employee with the understanding that this person would go full-time once the hospital re-opened. Mrs. Valerie Kerekes was hired on January 2, 2007 as a part-time employee. Hospital Closed November 2007. Mrs. Kerekes resigned on May 11, 2012 as her husband’s job was relocated to North Carolina. Mrs. Mary-Beth Netzer was hired on October 15, 2012 as a part-time employee. Hackensack UMC at Pascack Valley opened in June, 2013. Pres. Beckman and Ms. Blehl had previously discussed in detail a full-time vs. part- time position for the Health Department and both agreed that having two part- time employees instead of one full-time employee would benefit the department by providing flexibility and save the Borough money by not having to provide benefits. This was discussed with the Board who agreed it was a good idea. Although the number of births from the hospital has been gradually increasing since they opened, the decision to hire the second part-time employee was put on hold until the birth numbers continued to show a steady increase. January 2, 2019 Corinne Woodward was hired, as a part-time seasonal employee to cover the time that Mrs. Netzer would be out on medical leave. February 19, 2019 Ms. Blehl sent a memo to Administrator Kezmarsky regarding the Board’s decision to change Mrs. Woodward’s employment status to part-time permanent. Copy annexed . February 20, 2019 Administrator Kezmarsky reached out to Ms. Blehl regarding the hiring/change of employment for Mrs. Woodward and explained there was a lack of funding available in the 2019 budget to change her employment status. March 1, 2019 Administrator Kezmarsky sent a memo to Ms. Blehl (copy annexed) . The memo stated that Ms. Woodward must be separated from her employment effective March 1, 2019. March 4, 2019 Pres. Beckman and Ms. Blehl met with Council Liaison Dell and Councilmember Montana. The outcome of the meeting; there was no money in the budget to pay Mrs. Woodward. March 11, 2019 Ms. Blehl met with Administrator Kezmarsky and via phone with Council Liaison Dell and Councilmember Montana. The outcome of the meeting; two floaters were hired to work in various departments and we could utilize them when needed. Mrs. Netzer could work extra hours only for isolated or special circumstances and cannot be regularly scheduled. Pres. Beckman explained the following: Many years ago the Board of Health submitted the annual budgets, Operating Expense & Salary/Wage, as a one lump sum budget which is permitted by State Statutes. We were asked by previous administration to break down the budgets outlining how the money was to be spent, as a courtesy, the Board of Health complied with that request. When requested the Operating Expense Budget is submitted, which is usually before the Salary/Wage budget. The Operating Expense budget was requested and submitted for 2019 however the 2019 Salary budget has not been requested from the Health Department. Pres. Beckman further explained that a full-time person was supposed to be hired when the hospital re-opened. That was held off until the workload from the hospital increased. The workload from the hospital has been steadily increasing. During Mrs. Netzer’s medical leave, a part-time temporary person was hired and turned out to be an excellent employee. Being the Board of Health Salary budget was not yet submitted, the Board did not think it would be wrong to make her a permanent part-time employee and submit the budget when requested. Councilperson Montana explained that the Salary budget should be submitted during September/October of the previous year. Pres. Beckman explained that this was not how it had been done in the past. Councilperson Montana said that no one did anything wrong, however going forward all requests need to be done in advance. Councilmember Montana also explained that the budget was introduced March 5, 2019 and two floaters were hired and can be used in the Health Department to fill in as needed. Pres. Beckman explained that Vital Statistic work is strictly confidential and all employees need to be appointed and receive training before working with these records. A discussion was held regarding the backlog of work in the department and the requirements set by the New Jersey State Department of Vital Statistics. It was decided to close the office two morning per week; Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, until the department is caught up and in compliance with State regulations. Mr. Farrell made a motion to close the Board of Health office two mornings per week to permit the employees to work uninterrupted on the backlog of work due to the increased workload; seconded by Mr. Andresen. Roll Call: Ayes: Mr. Andresen, Mrs. Beckman, Mrs. Bott, Mr. Farrell, Ms. McCloskey. Nayes: None. Abstained: None. Carried. 2) 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH SALARY BUDGET The Board will discuss in detail the 2020 budget so it can be submitted by September 2019. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT 1) BABYSITTING TRAINING CLASS Council Liaison Dell explained that the second Babysitting Training Class was held and was a great success. Another one will be planned for the end of May. 2) COMMUNITY EVENT On April 13, 2019 there will be a fund raiser for Dave Saunders at the Junior/Senior High School. Shirts are being sold to help raise money. A discussion was held. EMERGENT MATTERS: There were no Emergent Matters to discuss. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, Mr. Farrell made a motion that the meeting be adjourned; seconded by Mr. Andresen. Voice Vote: Ayes: All present voted in favor. Nayes: None. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. Sharon Blehl Secretary The next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 7:30 P.M. in the Municipal Complex. These Minutes were approved at a meeting of the Board of Health of the Borough of Westwood held on the 12th day of September, 2019.