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The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, August 3, 2009 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building's Conference Room East. Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr., called the meeting to order. Members present were Eileen Dubin and Paul Stoddard. Mr. Emerson and Ms. LaVigne were absent. Ms. Donna Moulton was also present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from July 2009.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that he would be adding item #4a. regarding the Public Health Update given by Mr. Paul Stoddard.

Moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Chairman Metzger, Sr., pointed out a couple of articles that have appeared in the local newspapers lately regarding the homelessness problem and local agencies that are still waiting for word on the State's budget.

COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MS. DONNA MOULTON

Ms. Moulton, DeKalb County Community Services Director, passed out a chart showing the current numbers of people that they have seen so far this year. In the month of June they saw about 117 families that needed help and in July they saw 107 families. There was a big spike in the numbers for June as you can see in the chart, said Ms. Moulton. The number of families in June 2009 doubles the number of families that they saw in June 2008. She said that they have a new case manager that has been hired for her office. She said that her staff is very busy and are booking appointments into this Thursday already.

Can you recruit some help, is there a way? Asked Chairman Metzger, Sr.

Ms. Moulton said that she wasn't really sure because one of the issues would be space. As it is they are full now and when they get the full time ARA Stimulus person, which is a 14-month position, they will be looking for more space. She will not hire that person until she has a contract in hand. When this person comes on board in her office Ms. Moulton will have to move out of the offices and go into the old Veteran's Assistance area.

Ms. Moulton also said that she would also be hiring a full time HRRP manager that will be working up to December 2010. Where this person will sit, she does not know yet.

Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that there would probably have to be a space study done for these positions to see where there is space for them.

Ms. Moulton pointed out to the committee on her budget page "B" that over the next two years her department will be receiving $280,000 for line item 8321 referring to the HRRP manager and the ARA funding equaling $321,000 that her office will be receiving that will run from May 2009 through September 2010.

The committee asked Ms. Moulton to get the foreclosure avoidance program information out to the public when her office is ready to take the applications and when they receive the funding for this program. Chairman Metzger, Sr., asked her to write a couple of paragraphs on this program and he will publish it with his column down in the Sandwich area.

Ms. Moulton said that she hopes to hear something very soon on the funding for the foreclosure avoidance program.

The committee thanked Ms. Moulton for a very informative presentation.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATE - MR. PAUL STODDARD

Mr. Stoddard said that at the last Public Health Board meeting the budget process has begun there. He said that the Public Health Board would be increasing the program fees between 5% to 20%. The public health aspect of the Health Department is running at a deficit of $278,600 that is projected for 2010. The Home Care will be making about $127,000. They are using the overage amount from the home care funds to help offset the underage from the public health, but it will still leave them with a deficit of about $126,000.

Last year the County gave the Health Department about $1,080,700.00 and this year they are asking for $1,100,200.00, so about $20,000 more in their request. They also approved the proposed animal control budget, said Mr. Stoddard.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectively submitted,

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Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr.

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary