New WIN Waste suit alleges open meeting violations

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Health voted to hire Bennesch Law Firm following a 55-minute executive session to discuss new pending litigation at the board's regular meeting Thursday. The litigation was filed earlier this month by WIN Waste Innovations against the board regarding alleged open meeting violations. In a Friday statement from the Seneca County General Health District, Health Communications Specialist Erika Handru said "the health district was made aware Friday (May 15) of yet another lawsuit filed by WIN Waste against the Board of Health. The board has retained an attorney and will work closely to appropriately respond." Ben Nutter, community engagement manager with WIN Waste Innovations, sent a Friday statement on behalf of the company to The A-T, saying WIN is "concerned with certain members (of the Board of Health) … using their positions to advance a biased agenda, undermining lawful processes and transparency. That's why we've filed a verified complaint under the Open Meetings Act." In the same statement, Nutter also said WIN was concerned about a "troubling pattern of closed-door decision making, missing or contradictory public records and repeated violations of Ohio's Open Meetings Law." Also discussed at the meeting was the "Get Vaccinated' grant in the amount of $24,000. Director of Nursing Andrea Barrell advised the grant was received from the Ohio Department of Health and is not used to promote any particular vaccinations, but was used to provide vaccines to those who may otherwise not be able to get them. "We do not promote or advise," Barrell told the board when board members Andrew Gase and Dwight Clary raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines. Barrell also advised the grant was helpful in providing vaccines specifically for children in kindergarten, 7th and 12th grades. In her report, Health Commissioner Julie Richards reported receiving an overdose prevention grant. She has been working with local officials to determine where to place vending machines to provide naloxone, also known as Narcan, to the community free of charge. Also at the meeting county epidemiologist Caitlin Dennison gave an update regarding the current rise in measles cases across the country, saying she had had several recent conversations about what to do if there were reported cases in the county as well as what to do should there be an outbreak. She later advised the goal was to be over-prepared for the spread of the disease and hopefully never see a case in the county. In other news, the board also approved the following agenda items: A contract with Mercy Housing Southeast for various health and wellness educational classes to be held at Charles Meadow; a contract with the Ohio Department of Commerce for manufactured home park inspections; a contract with Key-Ads Inc for billboard advertising; a contract with the Ohio State University Extension for SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program working policy systems and environmental changes for the Food Policy Council; a contract with Bridges Preparatory Academy for nursing services; a contract with the Seneca County Youth Center for CPR training classes; a contract with the Board of Directors of the Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Counties Joint Solid Waste Management District for landfill compliance inspections and well water collection and analysis. Rescinding the condemnation of two residential buildings in Fostoria. Adopting a new board of health cell phone usage policy. The next board of health meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 26.