SALEM — The Salem Health Department is looking for a new board member and also asking city residents to fill out a survey for the Community Health Assessment, which looks at health needs in Columbiana County.
City Health Commissioner Alanna Stainbrook said the city needs at least 100 surveys completed or sent in by city residents by the Nov. 19 deadline. The county health district was sending notices out to county residents, referring people to the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G6YZY9Y.
The survey can also be accessed through the city health department website at salemcityhealthdistrict.org or through the county health district website at columbiana-health.org.
According to the notice from the county health district, the results of the survey will be used by health departments, hospitals, mental health providers, and other partnering organizations to help plan future county programs and funding. The notice includes a QR code that can be scanned by a phone to get to the survey.
The board agreed to contribute $750 toward the cost of the data analysis for the community health assessment, which is the same amount contributed last year.
Mayor John Berlin, who serves as chairman of the health board by virtue of his position, read from the resignation letter sent by now former health board member Karen Crouse. The letter dated Oct. 11 said she was unable to continue due to her involvement with the care of her grandchildren.
Berlin, who will appoint her replacement, said anyone interested in serving on the health board should contact his office at 330-332-4241.
The board officially accepted her resignation, with regret. Her unexpired term is done at the end of December, but Berlin said the selected person will likely be appointed to the unexpired term and to a new five-year term which begins in January.
Stainbrook announced that they have COVID-19 booster clinics scheduled next week, with both Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines available. She also said they can now mix and match vaccines for the boosters. For Moderna, boosters are only being offered for people over 65 or who are immunocompromised. For the J & J, the booster is available to anyone 18 and over and who had last had a vaccine shot at least two months ago.
Anyone wanting the vaccine must call 330-332-1618 to make an appointment.
According to Stainbrook, not as many people are getting COVID, but more people are dying. In her opinion, that’s due to the Delta variant. She also said the majority of people dying are those who are unvaccinated.
Berlin reported receiving an email regarding a trash hauler dumping liquid and stuff near a bus stop. The complaint will be forwarded to the health department’s environmental director.
In other business, the board held second readings on resolutions for the 2022 food service fees and fees for administering vaccines. A public hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 17 regarding the new food services fees, with the next regular meeting set for 2 p.m. Nov. 17.
The board gave Stainbrook approval to spend the remaining $799 of a grant on supplies and permission to purchase a new laptop or personal computer not to exceed $3,000. She also reported $14,945 was left in a grant that will cover personnel costs.
The board went into executive session for personnel and emerged to propose creating a new position of deputy registrar/accreditation coordinator at a rate of $13.45 per hour. The accreditation coordinator part will be limited to 10 hours per week. Berlin said this is a backup position in case it becomes necessary to assure continuity if the current accreditation coordinator would happen to leave.
City council will have to approve the new position.
https://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/local-news/2021/10/new-board-member-sought-for-salem-health-department/
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