Macon County holds public hearing on consolidating health and human services; no vote taken

The Macon County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 held a public hearing on a draft resolution to consolidate the county public health department with other human services agencies and to create a consolidated human services advisory board under North Carolina law. County staff presented a proposed timeline and draft resolution but the board did not vote at the meeting, instead asking for more time for study and follow-up with the current Board of Health.

The proposal presented by Tammy Kieser, a county staff member, described three statutory options under N.C. Gen. Stat. §153A-77: leave the existing boards in place; have the board of county commissioners assume the powers of local boards while departments remain separate; or create a consolidated human services agency with an appointed consolidated board and a director hired by the county manager with advice and consent of that board. Kieser said the county's recommendation was to create a consolidated human services agency and an appointed consolidated board. She described proposed governance changes, personnel-policy changes and a tentative timetable for appointments and training.

Why it matters: consolidation would move public-health personnel from the State Human…