BOARD OF HEALTH

Agenda

1. Chair Caroline Gomez-Tom called the meeting to order at 5:36 pm.
2. Board Member Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa motioned to approve, Board Member Dr. Wujie Zhang seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor and none opposed.
3. Chair: Board Member Ruthie Burich-Weatherly nominated Board Member Dr. Wujie Zhang for Chair and Board Member Dr. Ian Martin seconded the motion. Board Member Dr. Wujie Zhang accepted the nomination, and the vote passed with all in favor and none opposed. Vice Chair: Board Member Caroline Gomez-Tom nominated Board Member Tahira Malik for Vice Chair. Board Member Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa seconded the motion. Board Member Tahira Malik accepted the nomination, and the vote passed with all in favor and none opposed.
4. Board Member Caroline Gomez-Tom explained the purpose of the branch collaboration roles was to support the four major branches of MHD. This update allows for the new board members to select a branch and allow current board members to move, if desired. Brach Collaboration assignments are as follows: Commissioner – Dr. Wujie Zhang and Tahira Malik PIE – Caroline Gomez-Tom and Penelope Stewart FCH – Tahira Malik and Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa Clinical Services – Dr. Ian Martin, Ruthie Burich-Weatherly/Ericka Sinclair? Environmental Health – Dr. Wujie Zhang, Ruthie Burich-Weatherly/Ericka Sinclair? The Clinical Services and Environmental Health assignments will be determined after Board Member Ruthie Burich-Weatherly connects with Board Member Ericka Sinclair.
5. Assistant City Attorney Peter Block presented on Public Records Law (including redactions/exceptional cases, the definition of a record, time to respond, enforcement of records law, and criminal penalties for violations) and the Milwaukee Ethics Board (including board makeup, advisory opinions, statements of economic interests, ethics complaints and investigations, overview of hearings for alleged ethics code violations, and elements of the ethics code such as applicability, prohibited conduct, conflicts of interest, and private interest in public contracts). Board Member Caroline Gomez-Tom asked about the length of time to keep a record. In response, ACA Peter Block referred to the record retention schedule.
6. Commissioner Totoraitis provided an update on the 2025 budget (including the upcoming hearing, staffing requests, funding sources, and MHD’s mandated and strategic/equity-based functions). Commissioner Totoraitis also presented on the Electronic Health Record transition to EPIC-OCHIN, for which a new contract has been signed and implementation is underway with a tentative April schedule for going live. Lastly, Commissioner Totoraitis gave a Communicable Disease Transmission update (including COVID, flu (H5N1), Parvovirus B19, West Nile, MPOX, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis) that contained data on COVID hospitalizations and Wisconsin Lab surveillance results for respiratory viruses. Board Member Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa asked if the 2025 budget featured any major cuts. Commissioner Totoraitis responded in the negative.
7. Chair Dr. Wujie Zhang encouraged in person board attendance, if possible. Commissioner Totoraitis will send out the finalized branch collaboration assignments via email. •State Legislative Package •Update on the budget
8. Board Member Ruthie Burich-Weatherly motioned to adjourn, Board Member Dr. Ian Martin seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor and none opposed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 pm.
9. Commissioner Totoraitis presented the Lead Program update on behalf of Deputy Commissioner Weber. Commissioner Totoraitis provided an update on two RFPS out for ARPA and HUD contracts, consultation with the Milwaukee Healthcare Partnership to increase lead screening, and hiring for new lead program staff (including a Housing Compliance Officer and Lead Project Inspectors to bring enforcement and scope writing (scope of abatement needs) competencies to MHD). Board Member Caroline Gomez-Tom asked for an update on the original SDC contract. Commissioner Totoraitis said that MHD is finalizing the process of paying out contracts for contractors who were working for SDC. Outreach has been conducted to active cases formerly under SDC, ensuring clients working with the state Lead Safe Homes Program know their status. Commissioner Totoraitis said MHD may investigate becoming a Lead Safe Homes Program in the future. Board Member Caroline Gomez-Tom asked for an update in November on enforcement strategy.
10. This meeting will be in-person with a virtual option. Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone using the link provided below or by calling the number provided. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99209923533?pwd=OEJ1MXRyWVk5eWtUUDBteTllYlZLZz09 Meeting ID: 992 0992 3533 Passcode: 337213 One tap mobile +13017158592,,99209923533#,,,,*337213# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,99209923533#,,,,*337213# US (Chicago)
11. Call to Order
12. Roll Call
13. Approval of Meeting Minutes from May 2, 2024
14. Election of Board Officers
15. Branch Collaboration Assignments
16. Presentation on Ethics and Public Records Law by Assistant City Attorney Peter Block
17. Communication from Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Totoraitis
18. Home Environmental Health (Lead Program) Update
19. Future agenda items [Next board meeting: Thursday, November 7, 2024 @ 5:30pm]
20. Adjournment
21. 231422 Communication relating to those documents submitted to the Board of Health for its meetings in 2024.
    Communication
22. Untitled item
23. In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety and Health, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting.
24. Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request this service, contact the City Clerk's Office ADA Coordinator at 286-2998, (FAX)286-3456, (TDD)286-2025 or by writing to the Coordinator at Room 205, City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
25. City Hall and the Zeidler Municipal Building are accessible by "The Hop" City Hall Stations, the MCTS Green Line, Connect 1, 14, 15, 18, 19, 30, 33, and 57 bus routes. Visit https://www.ridemcts.com/ for more information. Bike racks are available on Water Street, Market Street, and Broadway, and a Bublr Bike Share station is located on the northeast corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. Limited parking for persons attending meetings during normal business hours is available at reduced rates (5 hour limit) at the Milwaukee Center on the southwest corner of Kilbourn Avenue and Water Street. You must present a copy of the meeting notice to the parking cashier.
26. Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are required to register with the City Clerk's Office License Division. Registered lobbyists appearing before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying.