Board wants more powers

Publication Date: 2009-03-08

• Author:Wesley Young
• Publication:Winston-Salem Journel

Some commissioners are upset with health director

If some county commissioners get their way, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners rather than the county Board of Health could one day make decisions on where to allow smoking or how to regulate lead in housing.

A majority of the commissioners are asking the N.C. General Assembly for a change in existing legislation that would give commissioners the right to assume the powers of the board of health.

That would put Dr. Tim Monroe, who directs the health department, under the county's supervision.

Currently, the health director is under the authority of the board of health -- an 11-member panel that is appointed by commissioners but can independently set health policies in the county.

Under current law, only Wake and Mecklenburg counties have populations large enough -- more than 425,000 --to assume health-board functions. The commissioners want that threshold lowered to 325,000 so that Forsyth County would qualify.

Commissioners are sending their request for a law change to state Rep. Bill McGee, R-Forsyth, who with Rep. Larry Womble is a co-leader of the county delegation in Raleigh.

Whisenhunt also faults the health board and Monroe for "beating up" on R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The health board recently passed a resolution in favor of raising cigarette taxes and banning smoking in workplaces and all indoor public places.