A newly constituted El Paso County Board of Health might be off to a rocky start after long-time board members expressed reservations about some changes.

On Tuesday, county commissioners voted 4-1, with Commissioner Wayne Williams dissenting, to expand the board to nine members from five and appoint four elected officials as members. It was a move designed to give public health a stronger presence and more influence in the community, Sallie Clark told The Gazette on Monday, and one that she said the current five-member Board of Health “overwhelmingly” supported.

But Health Board Chairman John Burrington said Tuesday before county commissioners approved the change that the process of reshaping the board was “divisive and bumpy.” County commissioners were required under a state law passed last year to re-create a Board of Health in an effort that aims to make public health administration more consistent across the state, but simply reappointing the existing board would have met that requirement.

Burrington complained that although the law was adopted 11 months ago, “Here we are at the last minute with all these questions.” He said the board wasn’t kept in the loop on how the new panel would be revamped, and he opposed commissioners imposing bylaws. He said boards usually adopt their own bylaws. He said he didn’t receive a copy of the final version of the resolution that commissioners considered on Tuesday until that day.

Burrington wanted the board to include a representative of an industry regulated by the board, such as someone representing day cares or restaurants. He also took issue with the bylaws designating the meeting place as the Regional Building Department, rather than the Health Department. Clark said Monday that the new location would allow health meetings to be broadcast online.

Long-term health board member Terry Thatcher called the process “frustrating” to current board members and that members had “a hard time” getting information about the process.

She also expressed concern that having four elected officials on the board – Commissioners Clark and Amy Lathen, Colorado Springs City Councilman Jerry Heimlicher and Manitou City Councilman Marc Snyder – might make the board too political.

Commissioner Wayne Williams shared some of Burrington’s and Thatcher’s concerns, including the political nature of the board. But he was successful in only one attempt to change the resolution – a measure to enable the commission to fill a future vacancy with a representative of an industry the health board regulates.

Commissioner Amy Lathen said the reconstituted board was “a great step” for those who make budget decisions for the Health Department, namely commissioners. “Everything is political,” she said. “But it doesn’t necessarily have to be bad that it’s political.” She said two commissioners on the board means citizens will have two more voices to represent them.

Lathen also noted that the new board can change bylaws if it chooses.

Thatcher noted that although Clark and Lathen have served as the commission’s liaisons with the Health Department for some time, “it’s been extremely difficult” for them to get to the meetings. Health Board meeting minutes show that Clark attended two of seven meetings between September and February, while Lathen attended none.

The new board holds its first meeting at the Regional Building center, 2880 International Circle, on Monday at 2 p.m.

For information on the new board, go to Item 8 at http://bcc.elpasoco.com/Tuesday+Current+Agenda.htm

Health reporter Brian Newsome contributed to this report.

Ken Moon, Around the House columnist Photo by