Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners summoned the Graham County Health Advisory Board for a special meeting on Jan. 10, but it didn’t go quite like expected and lasted around five minutes.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Jacob Nelms said the purpose of the meeting – held at the Graham County Community Building – was to seek input from the Health Advisory Board about challenges, ways to improve services or add new services.
The agenda itself was more vague. It called for a discussion, followed by a closed session for privileged or confidential information, attorney client privilege, and personnel and contracts.
The board of commissioners serves as the Graham County Board of Health, the governing board of the Graham County Public Health Department. It is unusual for an elected, political board to oversee public health departments. Instead, boards of health normally consist of healthcare professionals.
Graham County has a board like that, also – it’s called the Graham County Health Advisory Board, but its role is subservient to the Board of Commissioners.
The two boards met twice in 2022: once to discuss whether an emergency contraceptive called Ella should be available through the Public Health Department, and once again when the Board of Commissioners to vote 3-2 to continue to make the drug available.
Public Health Director Beth Booth later resigned, expressing frustration over a political board overseeing her agency and the lack of support from the board as demonstrated by its narrow vote to continue offering Ella.
To reject Ella could jeopardize federal funding for the Public Health Department, it has been stated.
One seat has changed on the Board of Commissioners since 2022, with Dale Wiggins – who voted with the majority to keep Ella – being replaced by Natasha Williams, whose stand on the drug has not been publicly stated.
So when commissioners summoned the health advisory board to a meeting with a vague agenda that could include a closed session and lawyers, apprehension was high.
The board of commissioners has never called on the health advisory board before, one member said, but this meeting was called suddenly and with no warning.
“This doesn’t work,” said the advisory board member, who did not give her name at the meeting.
She said the commissioners have created problems that the health department will have to deal with – but did not cite specifics.
She may have been referring to Booth’s resignation, along with turmoil within the health department over the controversy.
She suggested that the advisory board be given time to meet on its own before appearing before the board of commissioners.
At that, commissioner Keith Eller – one of two commissioners who voted to ban Ella – motioned to adjourn.
Nelms said a meeting between the two boards was overdue and that the board of commissioners needs the advisory board’s opinions.
Commissioner Connie Orr – who voted with the majority to keep Ella – seconded Eller’s motion to adjourn, commenting that there should be an effort to find a process that works.
The final vote was somewhat muddled, but the meeting was adjourned about five minutes after starting.
Another meeting is planned for Monday, Feb. 6.