Davidson County Board of Health resignations cause heated debate
Davidson County Schools Board of Education Chair, Alan Beck, speaks at the Davidson County Board of Health’s Special Called Meeting Thursday night. Commissioner James Shores is seen in the background, listening. {Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
The second special-called meeting of the Davidson County Board of Health, in less than three weeks, concluded with more questions than answers, the rejection of one resignation and the request for another on Thursday, April 6. Held at the Davidson County Health Department (DCHD), members of the board, once again, directed frustration towards Davidson County Commissioner James Shores who introduced a resolution for a public hearing on March 13 to potentially dissolve the board as is and assume direct control over the department.
Currently, the 12-member board has the authority to implement public health policies and practices without approval from county government. Under the proposal, the board of health would become an advisory board. Shores stated this change would provide the commissioners with more say regarding public health decisions. The commissioners unanimously approved the resolution with the hearing scheduled for April 24.
Since then, the board of health has conducted two special-called meetings. The first was held Tuesday, March 21. Amid the receipt of a resignation letter from the director of the DCHD, Lillian Koontz, Thursday’s meeting consisted of a standing-room only crowd of current and former health department employees, past board of health members, doctors, veterinarians and citizens.
At the start of the meeting, board chair Tammy Troublefield noted Koontz has been elected by her peers in January of this year to serve as the president of the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors. Last month, she was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the North Carolina State Board of Registered Environmental Health Specialist Examiners.
Before opening the floor for public comments, board member Tobin Shepherd made a motion to allow residents to speak directly to matters noted on the agenda. It was approved unanimously. Snippets of comments, taken directly from the four citizens who spoke, follow:
Alice Gray (former health department employee and board of health member) – opposes takeover of board of health by commissioners, “decisions you have to make are hard and difficult; having a sign up for COVID-19 vaccines was brilliant; others had to wait three and a half hours in other counties where it was first come, first serve; one person experienced a longer wait time at our health department and they received an email from Lillian; ‘I commend you for the job you’ve done.’”
Alan Beck (Davidson County Schools Board of Education chair) – “This is a group of professionals”; appreciates the board; “Lillian gave us factual, unbiased information. Thank you for what you did”; “Shores was supportive of banning masks and was upset with Lillie”; “He said she would make sure she’d lose her job over this and would get rid of the board to get rid of her.”
Ashley Carroll (Davidson County School Board of Education member) – “Strong people stand up for themselves. Stronger people stand up for others. This is asinine”; we had to do what was best during COVID; “We went to war with DCHD and Lillian. There’s no one I’d rather go to war with. She never tired to sway us. It’s a well-known fact that what Beck said [regarding Shores] is true. Stand up for the integrity of Davidson County.”
Cathy Browder (citizen) – “Our health department is the most important thing we have”; leave the responsibility for our safety and good health to the experts and people following the science; great leadership from this board; “I don’t want our health to be dictated by political ideas. Please keep our board independent.”
Koontz shared she was asked to provide information surrounding questions raised by Shores and fellow commissioners as well as challenges the department is facing. Notables from the presentation include:
Since August 2020, 8 of 13 staffers have left the department for higher pay
Since August 2020, five individuals declined Environmental Health Services On-Site Wastewater (OSWW) positions due to salary; other positions declined for same reasoning
Email from Koontz to County Manager Casey Smith on 12/10/01 stated, “We’re in a precarious place, loss of another OSWW person will completely cripple our program.”
Paraphrased email from Koontz to Smith on 2/15/22 – Truly believe Davidson County is in crisis mode; need to consider a $7,000 salary increase for all EH employees to stop the bleed; asked county staffer to look into a budget allowance
Informed on February 28, 2023 by Human Resources of hiring freeze for OSWW positions; OSWW reassigned to food program on same day, decision wasn’t made by Koontz
Commissioners hired Goodwin Staffing in June 2022 to help with recruiting and hiring; Goodwin contacted almost 200 candidates and all were looking for a salary higher than the proposed range of $50,925-$60,000
EH consultant recommendation: only solution is more people
Six-to-nine-month training process for EH
After hearing from Koontz, Troublefield requested questions and comments from fellow board members. Troublefield confirmed the board of health had approached the commissioners in 2020 about increasing health department salaries.
Shepherd directed his commentary to Senior Assistant County Attorney Sheri Woodyard. Referencing NC Statute 130A-41 numbers 12 (To employ and dismiss employees of the local health department in accordance with Chapter 126 of the General Statutes) and 13 (To enter contracts, in accordance with The Local Government Finance Act, G.S. Chapter 159, on behalf of the local health department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to abrogate the authority of the board of county commissioners), he sought clarity regarding what Koontz had the power to do and what the commissioners had the power not to do. Woodyard affirmed she believed according to the aforementioned 12, “the health director determines what is in the best interest of the county.”
As it relates to (13), Shepherd produced a document signed by the chair of the commissioners, Fred McClure. By his interpretation of the statute, the contract should’ve been signed by the health director since the contractor was rendering services for the health department. A motion was made by Shepherd and was unanimously approved by the board to have Woodyard investigate the contract.
Board of health member Dr. Rob Williams thanked Koontz for gathering the information then turned his attention to Shores. Looking directly at the commissioner, Williams said, “James, you said the commissioners weren’t getting information. I think this is a ruse. I think this is an effort to control and replace Lillian. None of this needed to happen. Why are these decisions being made without discussions going through the director? This resolution does nothing to help the citizens of Davidson County.”
Shores responded, “I don’t want her fired. During COVID, I did everything to help. The commissioners have received many, many complaints.” He expressed and read aloud an email he’d received that day from someone who’d been waiting 10 months to receive a building authorization permit. Shepherd asked if he’d forwarded those emails to Koontz. Shores said he doesn’t forward any emails.
Williams pointed out to Shores that his email confirms what Koontz has been saying but he “isn’t doing anything to fix it.” Turning to his left, Shepherd offered more thoughts to Shores who he noted hadn’t addressed the accusations made by Beck and Carroll. An impassioned Shepherd said, “Why would two, highly credible elected officials provide false information? I think you’re a bully. They don’t deserve this. We don’t. I call on you to resign from the board of health and as an elected official of Davidson County. The people of Davidson County deserve a better elected official.” Shores offered no rebuttal.
Other notables:
The board unanimously rejected Koontz’s resignation letter. For now, she will remain in her position.
No other commissioners were in attendance at the meeting. Troublefield shared she personally invited them, Smith and the assistant county manager.
Board member Dr. Alan Cope disclosed he’d been on the board eight years and the need to increase salary wasn’t a new issue. Noted taxes could be raise $.11 per resident resulting in a $20K salary increase.
Troublefield asked how many emails has been received by the department about environmental health since August 2020. A total of 150 had been received and answered. The department received responses from 32.
