HomeMy WebLinkAbout191219 - Minutes, Community Health Adv.Washington County Community Health Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
December 19, 2019
Opening
This meeting of the Washington County Community Health Advisory Committee was called to
order at 7:30am by Michael Reyka, Chair, at 100 West Washington Street, Suite 1115,
Hagerstown.
Present
Commissioner Randall Wagner, April Bishop, Ashley Holloway, Rob Ferree, Rich Eichelberger,
Jennifer Foltz, Heidi Kendall, Cyndi Powell, Michael Reyka, Earl Stoner and Dave Chisholm
Old Business
• Much of the meeting was spent discussing the function and purpose of this group.
We are still figuring it out. We established that day-to-day/operational community
health concerns should be the focus of County officials and staff. Our committee is
not equipped to be the point of contact for the community and cannot be responsible
for promptly funneling all concerns.
• Instead, this group should focus on larger, systemic, over -arching population health
concerns and trends. We should do our best to listen and understand these issues
so we can advise the Commissioners to the best of our collective abilities.
• Some examples:
o Mental health issues, especially as witnessed/experienced by Emergency
Services. This is a topic we can discuss, and the committee may be able to
lend it's support for resources/services to help address this issue. A recovery
center was mentioned as an objective the county wants to implement, but
they are getting push -back because no one wants that type of establishment
to be next to their business or residence.
o Meritus has a new CEO with global ideas and goals. Some of these include:
■ Food pharmacy, where Meritus will grow produce and other health
foods, a practitioner will write a prescription for these foods to be
provided to people with diabetes and/or people of low income.
• Recently wrote a grant to try to increase the amount of time addicted
mothers and babies can stay together in the hospital to both go
through a rehabilitative program before being released.
• Community Health Initiative targeting low income housing areas by
placing a nurse manager/care giver directly into these areas.
• Much discussion was held on the Statewide Styrofoam Ban. This can be our first
topic to tackle as a group.
o Rob Ferree suggested we involve members of the Food and Beverage
Association in our discussions.
o Earl Stoner volunteered to do some research on the topic and bring it back to
our next meeting.
o In general, our role can be researching the topic and sharing that information
with the Commissioners so they are better informed when implementing
policies/ordinances.
• As the group continues to gather information, brainstorm and understand our
function/purpose, Chair, Michael Reyka requested that each member come to the
next meeting with a bullet list of qualities that each of us brings to the group. What
areas are we "experts" in and what do we offer to the committee?
New Business
• Economic Development
• City and County Revitalization
o Challenges for city revitalization:
■ The general population downtown and the perception of that population.
■ Rob Ferree feels it is a complex problem to try and revitalize the
downtown. While there are many good things, programs and plans being
put in place, it takes time for these programs to manifest and many things
can change during the process.
• We are -20 deputies short for the City of Hagerstown force.
Next Meeting
• Thursday, January 9th, 2020 from 7:30am-8:30am
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30am.
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