Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2022-09-08

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, September 8, 2022
 7:00 pm
 Board of Health Members
 Zoom/Virtual Meeting


 AGENDA


 Due to the level of COVID-19 cases, this meeting is being held virtually. Members of the public who wish to comment as to
 an item on the published agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to Michael Charley,
 michael.charley@skokie.org and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented to the Board of Health
 members and be made part of the record. Written comments also may be submitted by email to
 publiccomments@skokie.org by mail to Village of Skokie, Attn: Michael Charley with the Skokie Health Department, 5127
 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, 60077; or via the Village’s drop box located by the public entry to Village Hall.


I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes, June 9, 2022

IV. Chair’s Report, Dr. Linn

V. HHS Vision and Hearing Program Presentation

VI. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health and Human Services

VII. Old/New Items of Business
 A. Partners in Public Health Excellent Awards

VIII. Public Comments

IX. Adjournment.




 Next Meeting: October 13, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

Skokie Board of
 Health Thursday,
 September 8, 2022
 7:00 pm
 Board of Health Members
 Zoom/Virtual Meeting


 MINUTES

Present: BOH Chair: Dr. Edward Linn; BOH Members: Dr. Swapna Dave, Margaret Keeler, Heidi Nickisch Duggan,
Rohit Pandya, Romil Sood, Irtaza Usman, Ruth Varma, Dr. Michael Vernon, Dr. William Werner, Dr. Larry Williams,
Sibyl Yau; Trustee Liaison James Johnson; Staff: Mike Charley,

Absent: BOH Members: Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Juliet Haido, Maureen Hanlon, Dr. Girija Kalyan Kumar, Jan Shiffman,
Juliet Haido, Dr. Jeremy Schwartz, Jan Shiffman, Dr. Kyungran Shim, Patricia Urbanus; Emeritus Member: Dr.
Michael Drachler; Trustee Liaison Keith Robinson; Staff: Cameron Hendricks, Sue Reisberg


I. Call to Order @ 7:04 PM

II. Approval of Agenda, by consent

III. Approval of Minutes, June 9, 2022, by consent

IV. Chair’s Report, Dr. Linn: Dr. Linn communicated that Dr. Werner had an announcement to make. Dr.
 Werner announced that in March he took a medical leave as Chair due to a medical procedure. Dr.
 Werner reported that his health is better, however he has decided to submit his official resignation as the
 BOH Chair. He has decided to continue to participate as a member of the BOH. Dr. Linn and Mike Charley
 thanked Dr. Werner for his leadership. Charley communicated that he has recommended to the Mayor
 that Dr. Linn continue on as the permanent Chair and the Mayor will be appointing Dr. Linn as Chair on
 Monday September 19.

 Dr. Linn communicated that several weeks ago the CDC sent out streamlined recommendations and
 COVID-19 guidance on isolation and quarantine. Dr. Linn communicated that he has been participating on
 some COVID education programs and that the educational group has recognized general COVID fatigue
 and that individuals have a perception that we are done with COVID, however this could not be further
 from the truth. Dr. Linn provided that the CDC recommendations still recommend close-contacts mask
 for 10 days and individuals test on day 5, however the media has failed to adequately communicate this.
 Dr. Linn recommended that the BOH members continue to share that COVID is still prevalent and that
 individuals should still take precautions.

V. HHS Vision and Hearing Program Presentation, Mike Charley, Director of Health and Human Services
 Program: Mike Charley communicated that this presentation is one of a series of Health and Human
 Services program presentations that will be provided at BOH meetings. Charley communicated the
 following regarding the HHS Vision and Hearing program:
 • The Village has provided Skokie private schools and licensed day care centers vision and hearing
 screening services for over 25 years. Public Schools provide screenings for their school-age
 children.
 • 24 private schools, preschools & day care centers are serviced with 4,126 screens performed
 annually
 • Prior to 2022, the Village HHS had a full-time staff member administering the screens. This staff
 person retired in 2021.
 • Starting in 2022, the Village hired a licensed vision and hearing contractor to conduct the screens.
 The contractor is paid per screen.
 • The vision and hearing program is funded 100% from a State of Illinois Vision and Hearing Grant
 ($15,890) and from fees paid by private schools per screen completed.

 Dr. Werner inquired whether children that require vision and hearing follow-up are getting the
 recommended services? Charley communicated that he believes that the schools are responsible for
 following up, not the HHS Department or the vision and hearing contractor. Charley will check to
 determine who is responsible. Maureen Hanlon recommended that an inquiry is conducted with the
 Village’s Law office to determine who is responsible. Charley communicated he would first talk to staff
 and/or reach out to the vision and hearing contractor and/or schools.

 Rohit Pandya asked whether Skokie HHS was providing for adult hearing screenings still? Charley
 responded “no”.

VI. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health and Human Services: The following was
 presented during Charley’s report:
 • COVID-19 News and Updates since the last BOH meeting on June 8.
 • Skokie HHS vaccine updates including that HHS will start administering the bivalent Moderna
 booster dose on September 13, 2022.
 • State of Illinois communicable disease data provides that the number of COVID Skokie resident
 cases has been decreasing since mid-May. This is data from the State’s Salesforce system that
 tracks tests administered by medical/testing providers.
 • Cook County’s CDC community level is “medium”, while Skokie’s community transmission rate is
 at 94 cases/100,000, which equates to a “substantial transmission” rate.
 • Updates were provided on various other program areas/topics including Monkey Pox, Health
 Inspection Professionals starting to conduct food inspections, the hiring of Rachel Blut, Public
 Health Nurse/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, the addition of a Social Work intern, ongoing
 tobacco enforcement on flavored nicotine containing tobacco products, community flu clinic
 information, the Emergency Financial Assistance program, the pilot Seniors Matter Rideshare
 Program, information on the Human Relations Commission and Commission on Family Services
 and various grant updates.

 Dr. Werner inquired whether Skokie was doing any wastewater screening for disease. Charley
 communicated that he is aware that there is wastewater screening being completed to detect the COVID
 virus, however Skokie is not participating at this point. Dr. Linn commented that Cook County is
 conducting wastewater screening and that the COVID virus can be found up to 2 weeks prior to observing
 increased cases in humans.

 Dr. Williams mentioned that during the last IPLAN process that oral health was addressed, and he would
 be happy to provide input and assist with this issue. Charley communicated that he would introduce Dr.
 Williams to Liz Nelson, Public Health Program Analyst/Manager.

VII. Old/New Items of Business
 A. Partners in Public Health Excellence Awards: Mike Charley provided information on the two nominees
 for this year’s Public Health in Public Health Excellence Awards. The two nominees are Heartland
 Health Centers and Kids First Pediatrics. Both went above and beyond in Skokie to improve public
 health. Charley requested that he BOH approve by vote for Health and Human Services to submit a
 memo to the Village Board and present the Partners in Public Health Excellence Award to each
 organization. The BOH voted unanimously to move forward with this.
 B. BOH Onboarding: Heidi Nickisch Duggan recommended that he BOH consider an onboarding process
 for new member for the BOH. She communicated that while she appreciates learning about all the
 programs that the HHS Department manages, she felt that if there was a formal onboarding process,
 BOH members would become more familiar with these programs and could use their expertise to
 provide better feedback at BOH meetings. Dr. Linn stated this is an excellent suggestion. Dr. Linn
 asked if anyone else is interested in working with Heidi, Dr. Linn and Mike Charley to develop an
 onboarding process for new members. Margaret Keeler stated that as one of the newer members,
 she seconds that and setting up and onboarding process is a great idea. Dr. Linn communicated that
 one of the reasons why he and Mike Charley developed the monthly HHS programs presentations,
 was to help BOH members understand those programs better. There were several BOH members
 who volunteered to participate on a subcommittee to develop the BOH onboarding process including
 Dr. Werner, Dr. Dave, Dr. Yau, Maureen Hanlon, Margaret Keeler and Heidi Nickisch Duggan. Heidi
 communicated that she would be willing to coordinate.

VIII. Public Comments, No public comments.

IX. Adjournment @ 8:07 PM, first by Dr. Williams and second by Maureen Hanlon




 Next Meeting: October 13, 2022, 7:00 p.m.