Committee approves health department transfers and discusses boosting environmental health staffing

The committee approved budgetary transfers for the health department and discussed staffing shortages in environmental health that are affecting inspections and permit turnaround.

Marlene Barrett, identified in the record as a director, attended for the item concerning fund-line revisions to align grants. Committee members said the health department is short-staffed and urged that available funds be used to bolster capacity. One member said, "if we can just, like, do anything to boost that staff capacity, it's one that directly affects our communities, with inspections and people waiting for permits and that really can hold up projects," reflecting concern about permit delays.

An earlier FYI from the Bureau of Emergency Services about a technical rescue and urban search-and-rescue grant (FY 2022) was presented by a bureau representative identified as Mr. Cuomo, who said the grant is for $100,000; a commissioner asked what portion of that amount would apply to Hutton (a local unit or jurisdiction named in the discussion). Mr. Cuomo said he did not have the exact allocation breakdown at the meeting.

Votes and outcome: Motions to approve the health department fund transfer and the revisions aligning office-of-seed-resources budget lines to grants were made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow-up information on staffing allocations and for the health department to provide detail on how the transferred funds will be applied to address inspection and permitting delays.