Whatcom County Council as Health Board

**Health Department Restructuring:** Interim Director Ramont explained the rationale for moving five staff positions across divisions, citing the need for better organizational infrastructure and more direct support for core functions. The changes moved healthcare access staff into communicable disease division, community development staff into the COD division to support future CHIP iterations, and three staff into a new office of the director structure. PHAB members requested an organizational chart for the next meeting to better understand the new structure. **Measles Preparedness and Response:** The health officers provided extensive detail on Whatcom County's vaccination rates (86% fully vaccinated kindergarteners, below the 95% herd immunity threshold) and outbreak risk modeling. T…

**Interim Health Director Charlene Ramont** emphasized departmental infrastructure needs and supported the winter shelter staffing changes to prevent staff burnout. **Co-Health Officer Dr. Meg Lelonek** stressed the importance of trusted relationships in successful disease investigation and the need for sustained capacity to respond to future outbreaks. **Council Member Todd Donovan** supported Health Board expansion, citing the Burke report recommendations and the value of having all stakeholders represented in decision-making rather than just during emergencies. **Council Member Mark Stremler** expressed skepticism about Health Board changes, questioning the lack of community demand and unclear justification for re…

**Dr. Meg Lelonek, on disease investigation complexity:** "I was really shocked two months into the job, how complex and expensive this investigation was for one case." **Interim Director Charlene Ramont, on winter shelter staffing:** "We can't continue to stretch our staff so thin in the operation of the winter shelter, we've had folks, you know, up all night and then coming to work to do their day jobs." **Council Member Mark Stremler, on Health Board restructuring:** "I haven't really he…

The health department implemented a minor but significant reorganization, moving five staff positions across divisions to improve infrastructure and effectiveness. Three staff moved to a new office of the director structure, providing more direct support for department-wide functions. The county secured ongoing funding for the LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program for the remainder of 2025, ending months of uncertainty about this criminal legal diversion program. Health Board restructuring discussions advanced with clearer articulation of specifi…

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council met jointly with the Public Health Advisory Board on July 29, 2025, serving in their role as the Board of Health. The meeting focused on public health updates, including a detailed presentation about the county's response to its first measles case in over a decade, and continued discussion about potentially expanding the Health Board to include representatives from cities, tribes, and community members. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Board of Health:** The governing body responsible for public health policy in a jurisdiction. In Whatcom County, the seven County Council members serve as the Board of Health, though state law now allows for expansion to include other representatives. **Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB):** A 21-member volunteer advisory body that provides community input on health matters. Created to meet state requirements when maintaining a council-only Board of Health. **Measles Contact Tracing:** The intensive process of identifying, monitoring, and potentially quarantining everyone who may have been exposed to a confirmed measles case to prevent outbreak spread. **MMR Vaccine:** The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine that provides protection against these three diseases. Requires two doses for full protection. **Herd Immunity Threshold:** The vaccination rate (95% for measles) needed in a population to prevent disease outbreaks from spreading. **Incident Command Structure:** An emergency management system used to coordinate complex responses like disease outbreaks, borrowed from emergency services. **LEAD Program:** Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program that diverts people from the criminal justice system into community-based services. **Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments:** Changes made to the county's two-year budget at the midpoint to address changing needs or revenues. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Council Chair, Health Board Chair | | Charlene Ramont | Interim Health Director | | Dr. Amy Harley | Co-Health Officer | | Dr. Meg Lelonek | Co-Health Officer | | Kayla Schott-Bresler | Deputy County Executive | | Christine Espina | PHAB Vice Chair | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member District 1 | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member District 2 | | Todd Donovan | Council Member District 3 | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member District 4 | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member District 5 | | Mark Stremler | Council Member District 6 | ### Background Contex…