Dr. Jennifer Roman, acting Commissioner of Health and the county medical examiner, told the Health and Mental Health Committee that the health department is finalizing training for new licensed practical nurses and public health nurses and expects regular vaccination and TB clinics to be back to prior capacity by August. The clinics will continue to provide immunizations for uninsured and underinsured children and the department plans extended clinic hours before the school year to reduce school exclusions for children without required vaccinations.

Roman said New York State and federal agencies have dropped the H5N1 designation as a public health emergency; the county is not currently affected and would respond if animal outbreaks occur. She said measles is showing increased national activity and the county will test suspected cases. The county is also running mosquito surveillance; initial samples showed no West Nile or eastern equine encephalitis. Rabies exposures from bats and stray animals have increased and the department urges residents who think they’ve been exposed to contact public health or emergency services; a nurse is available 24 hours to authorize treatment when needed.

Roman described tick risk as elevated and year‑round in the county because of warmer winters; she cited a regional tick‑risk index indicating a 9 out of 10 risk for the area and encouraged precautions such as long clothing and use of repellents. Environmental health revenue collected through June was $444,778, Roman said, trending above budget projections. The department reported 352 plan reviews through the end of the second quarter and expects a record annual total near 700 if current pace continues.

On grants and finance, Roman said the department manages 21 active grants for 2025 and is averaging a 95% spend down; the department expects an initial dual‑funding installment of about $517,000 followed by annual installments around $172,000, though she said delays from the attorney general’s office had slowed some distributions.

Roman also provided medical‑examiner figures: 205 decedents transported to the medical examiner’s office year‑to‑date and 152 autopsies performed year‑to‑date (figures were current through the Friday prior to the meeting). She explained that a ‘‘no case’’ determination can occur when investigators and the medical examiner determine a death need not be referred to the office for full examination and described processes when a decedent has no next of kin or when family disputes delay disposition.

The department encouraged completion of a community health assessment survey and said staff will collect survey responses at community events such as National Night Out and farmers markets.