Thursday, September 28, 2023

On-Site / Zoom

4:30 pm - Regular Board of Directors Meeting 

 

Present   

On-Site

C. Goldberg, J. Donaldson, P. Marone,  R. Martinello, J. Nuzzolillo

Staff:   L. Pantoja, A. Mulvihill, L. Fox,  B. Bildstein 

Zoom

R. Ivins, A. Levison, C. Lewis, P. Sandor, J. O’Neil St. Peter,  E. Thornquist, S. Yarbrough 

Absent   K. Blake, L. Altieri

 

President

C. Goldberg, President started the meeting at 4:30 p.m. 

 

Approval of  the June 22, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes

Motion by J. Donaldson, seconded by P. Marone, to approve the QVHD Board Meeting Minutes of the June 22, 2023 Board Meeting.

Motion to accept the minutes passed. 

Financial Report  - L. Pantoja presented in L. Altieri’s absence. 

• Town Per Capita: First Quarter payments from all four Towns were received
• State Per Capita SFY 2024 Funding received.   The payment  is lower due to the decrease in district population.

Motion by P. Marone, seconded by J. Donaldson, to place the Financial Report on file.  

Motion passed.

Administrative Reports

Director of Health - L. Pantoja  (Full report is on file.)

• ELC2 (Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Funding Grant)

-          Budget Revision submitted on 9/15/23

-           Funding period extended to 5/31/24 .  (Grant is Covid specific)

-          Request to add Health Educator and Public Health Nurse 

 

• Immunizations & Vaccines for Children Funding

-          Funding period has been extended until 6/30/25.

-          Health Educator & Public Health Nurse bridge from ELC2 to Immunizations

-          Media component: in-house production development & subcontractual

 

• Public Health Workforce Development & Infrastructure Funding

-          Funding period up to 11/30/27

 

• Covid Vaccines

-          East Shore is doing Local Pop-up Clinics.

-          Hamden is having a clinic on October 5, 2023 from 11 – 2 p.m.

-          Need to get a partner to do Pop-up Clinics.

 

• Covid Test Kits

-          FDA extended the expiration on some Covid Test Kits.

-          Four - Free Test kits are available through COVIDTest.gov

 

• ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)

-          Elevated Blood Levels thresholds for lead poisonings are decreasing.

-          EBLL trigger epidemiological investigations.

XRF Partnership agreement w/ DPH

 

• OD2A (Overdose Data to Action Grant)

-          CT DPH concluded 8/31/23

-          New Haven Health Departments awarded Component A & C

-          Subcontract in partnership with NHHD

 

• Internships

-         UCONN Program in Applied Public Health Sciences: MPH Workforce Internship

-         Yale School of Public Health Fellowship Program

-         L. Pantoja will be teaching at UCONN in November.

 

 Community Health: 

Director of Community Programs - A. Mulvihill  (Full report is on file)

• QVHD has seen an increase in active TB cases in the district.

-          A. Mulvihill continues to provide case management and eDOT (Electronic Directly Observed Therapy) Monday through Friday.

-          A. Mulvihill highlighted the need for additional community health resources to address the increase in TB cases and the related

            case management of each. It is a very time-consuming task in the beginning stages and without such resources ultimately impacts

            other community health activities.

 

• Community Health Assessment Update. 

-          In partnership with DataHaven, QVHD has developed a survey for district residents to weigh in and share insights from their own

            experiences/perspectives. A. Mulvihill shared it is paramount that the Board of Directors responses are represented and invited

            those that have not taken it already to do so. 

-          The in-person and virtual focus groups were postponed – date TBD. 

-          Key informant interviews with town administration and partners are in process.

•        A. Mulvihill invited the Board of Directors to attend the  “Out of the Darkness Walk” on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the

            Hamden Town Center Park to see community health in action, as K. Sepulveda is co-chair and A. Mulvihill will host a QVHD

            table for outreach and health education.

J. Donaldson gave Kudos to the Community Health Staff for their work and their impact on our community.

 

Environmental Health:  

Chief of Environmental Services - L. Fox  (Full report is on file)

•       Environmental Health has been working with limited staff for the past few months.

          Our new Sanitarian, Gelacio Sanchez starts on Monday, October 2, 2023. He does not have any field experience;

          therefore, a lot of training and field experience is needed before he can work independently.

 

• Scanning Project – Hamden

-       Two quotes have been received for scanning the Hamden Street files.  The number of

         large format drawings (engineer, architectural and floor plans) account  for 60% of the cost.

         Purging the files of duplicate and non-approved drawings will drastically reduce the cost.  The purchase

        of a large format scanner is being considered so that large drawings can be scanned inhouse.

 

Committee Reports:  

• Nominating Committee – Elected

-     C. Goldberg – President

-     P. Marone – Vice President

 

Motion by J. Donaldson, seconded by R. Martinello to accept the Elected Nominating Committee.

Motion passed.

 

Adjourn:

Motion by R. Martinello, seconded by J. Donaldson  to Adjourn and Move into Executive Session  at 6:20  p.m.

Motion passed.

 

Executive Session:

Motion by Carol Goldberg, seconded by Peter Marone  to  end the Executive Session  at 8:30  p.m.

Motion passed.