DATE: June 18, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Appointment of Deputy Public Health Officer
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Confirm appointment of Dr. Kenneth Bird to the position of Deputy Public Health Officer on an extra-help basis pursuant to the Fresno County Charter, Sections 12 and 16, providing him with the authority to act on behalf of the County Health Officer in his/her absence, effective June 17, 2019
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will confirm Dr. Kenneth Bird as Deputy Public Health Officer on an extra-help basis and allow him to act on behalf of the County Health Officer in his/her absence. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board choose not to confirm the appointment, the County would not have a county-appointed Deputy Public Health Officer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department of Public Health Org 5620 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to Sections 12 and 16 of the Fresno County Charter, with your Board’s approval of the recommended action, the appointment of Dr. Bird to the position of Deputy Public Health Officer will be confirmed.
On June 7, 2019, the former Deputy Health Officer resigned from the County to join the private sector.
Dr. Bird served as a public health physician with the Department from 1986 to 2002 and 2003 to 2014. He served as County Health Officer in 2003 and 2014 to 2017. Since April 1, 2018, he has served as a County extra-help employee providing specialized knowledge and experience.
Since December of 2018, Dr. Bird has served as the Merced County Interim Health Officer, assisting Fresno County under the temporary reciprocal health officer coverage Agreement No. 18-304.
The appointment of Dr. Bird as Deputy Public Health Officer will temporarily fill the position while the Department works with the Human Resources Department to recruit for the position.
Critical responsibilities of the Deputy Public Health Officer include:
• Performing necessary duties of the Health Officer in the absence or unavailability of the Health Officer.
• Assisting with planning and directing medical aspects of public health programs.
• Assisting with providing overall leadership and management direction for the Department in the enforcement of public health laws and regulations.
• Assisting in evaluating existing programs and initiating changes in programs.
• Assisting in acting as a consultant to professional staff members and members of the medical profession on problems concerning public health.
• Assisting in consulting the medical community in the diagnosis and investigation of suspected communicable disease; making personal investigations of some diseases including but not limited to examination, diagnosis, prescription and administration of treatment to certain patients with communicable diseases.
• Assisting with advising and making recommendations on matters relating to the quality and scope of medical services provided by the Department.
• Assisting in providing direction on and approving medical protocol for departmental programs and services.
• Assisting in training and supervising physicians who provide medical services to the public.
• Assisting with advising and consulting the preparation of program budgets and reviewing reports.
• Representing the County in meetings with the Board of Supervisors, commissions, committees, community and regulatory agencies, and other public groups.
• Collaborating with, and being the public health consultant for a variety of agencies at the local, regional, and State level.
• Coordinating the Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program with providing policy guidance regarding issues impacting children.
• Discussing and facilitating the discussion of health issues with community members and groups.
• Assisting in ensuring that public health services comply with State, Federal, and local requirements, regulations, and policies.
• Assisting with analysis of public health data, policies, programs and procedures, and preparing reports and correspondence.
• Assisting in assuring the enforcement of applicable public health orders, ordinances and statutes.
With your Board’s approval, the appointment of Dr. Bird as Deputy Public Health Officer on an extra-help basis will be confirmed.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #35.1, April 9, 2019
BAI #9, March 20, 2018
BAI #8, November 4, 2014
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa