Piscataquis Public Health Council

Piscataquis Public Health Council Meeting
March 8, 2001
Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft

Attending: Donald Siviski, SAD 68 Supt.; David Walker, SAD 41 Supt.; Michael Cyr, SAD 4 Supt.; Raymond Poulin, SAD 46 Supt., and Nancy Hoskins, SAD 46 School Nurse; Susan Crippen, North Country Healthy Communities; Mary Tondreau, occupational health nurse, Hardwood Products Co., Ardie Porter, occupational health nurse, Moosehead Manufacturing Co.; Tom Lizotte, Mayo Regional Hospital; Cathy Cobb, C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital (via videoconferencing connection from Greenville).

Meeting opened with report by Tom Lizotte and Cathy Cobb, who attended the statewide orientation for the Campaign for a Healthy Maine on Feb. 28 in Augusta. Tom said the message from the Bureau of Health was for community partnerships to push forward with implementation of grant work plans, and not to become immobilized by the uncertainty over legislative funding. Tom reported Mayo had not yet received grant funds, although the first check should be mailed out soon.

Tom presented an update on prospects for grant funding reductions due to the ongoing state budget process. Cuts could be anywhere from 30 to 10% of tobacco grant, but the Legislature won't finalize figures until late March. Council members discussed the implications of budget cuts on the tobacco grant's work plan and staffing levels. The major uncertainty will be whether the PPHC can hire all three full-time School Health Coordinators to serve the five area SADs, as originally envisioned in our revised grant application. Tom said three SHCs will be highly unlikely, and that two will probably be what we can end up hiring after the Legislature approves a budget.

Council members reviewed the pool of applicants who responded to ads for the Community Partnership Director and School Health Coordinator positions. Tom reported the top two applicants for the SHC positions appear to be the most qualified for the Community Partnership Director position, and suggested interviewing them for the directorship. Members agreed to that proposal.

Action steps:
PPHC members agreed the Council should move ahead with scheduling interviews and hiring for the Community Partnership Director. The Council will monitor budget deliberations in Augusta, and not move forward with hiring School Health Coordinators until we have more information on pending program cuts and their effect on staffing plans. Tom Lizotte was asked to contact SHC candidates to explain the delay.

Meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Tom Lizotte

Next meeting:
Thursday, March 21, 10-11:30 a.m. at new conference room in Mayo Resource Center.