Macedonia to remain on board
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STEUBENVILLE -- It was not unanimous, but Dr. Patrick Macedonia will serve on the Jefferson County Board of Health for another term.
The Jefferson County District Advisory Council held its annual meeting Tuesday night inside the Jefferson County Tower, with the main focus of the agenda to make an appointment to the seat that Macedonia has held for approximately 19 months. That term was up this month.
There were two applicants for the seat -- Macedonia and Dr. Rachel Gilman. Both were present at the meeting and given an opportunity to address the DAC members and the audience.
After a lengthy executive session, the DAC executive committee, a five-person panel formed during the meeting, held two votes.
The executive committee was formed due to a lack of quorum, with only 13 members present.
Thomas Graham, executive committee member by virtue of being chair of the Jefferson County Commissioners, made a motion to appoint Gilman, but he and DAC Chairman Dave Ramsey were the only executive committee members to vote in favor of her appointment.
Steubenville City Manager Jim Mavromatis moved to re-appoint Macedonia, and that motion carried a required majority to accept his appointment.
Ramsey voted against the motion.
During the correspondence portion of the meeting, five letters were read -- one from health board member Jean Phillipe Rigaud in support of Macedonia, one from local activist and Steubenville City Council candidate Royal Mayo critical of Macedonia and three from citizens of the county in support of Gilman or the appointment of a woman to the board.
All five members of the current board are men.
Rigaud, in his letter, praised Macedonia’s work and leadership with the board of health.
Mayo’s letter was critical of Macedonia and board of health President Terry Bell, citing an incident at the board’s November meeting during which Mayo was on the agenda but told he was not allowed to speak and the involvement of a sheriff’s deputy.
“The actions of several board members culminated into a meeting where their behaviors were reprehensible,” the letter from Mayo said, adding that Macedonia recessing the meeting in question was “degrading.”
The letter also stated that Mayo felt “in harm’s way” due to remarks Mayo said were made by Macedonia to the sheriff’s deputy about his firearm being loaded.
“The officer has never been directed to remove or chastise any other individual that is not of color,” the letter said, giving the deputy credit for remaining “levelheaded.”
Ramsey said the letter, when it was received, was sent to the county prosecutor’s office, and they told him it was not a matter they would investigate.
Pointed out in the letters from residents were concerns the all-male makeup of the board does not effectively represent the population of the county.
“Women account for more than half of the county’s population, we need a voice,” a letter from a resident said.
“We have an opportunity in Jefferson County to add a highly qualified female physician to our local board of health who has been recognized at the state level,” another letter said, pointing out in addition to the board members, the health commissioner and medical director are also men.
Macedonia, during his remarks, noted that, while he is a man, his more than 40-year career as gynecologist has helped him to understand the concerns of women.
“I understand women very well,” he said. “I understand their needs, their concerns. Even though I’m a male, my practice allows me to understand women.”
He also said that he tried to bring accountability to the board and that positions he took were “based on science.”
“With all due respect to Mr. Bell, at my first meeting I realized the health department was run very inefficiently with no accountability,” he said. “I think with my presence on that committee, that board became more accountable, more responsible to the citizens of Jefferson County.”
Gilman said during her remarks her interest in the position was to give back to the community and continue to help the under-served.
“I’d like to get more involved,” she said. “I live in Jefferson County. I have three kids that go to school here.
“I would serve as a community member. I think we can do better.”
Both noted they are not affiliated with Trinity Health System, making them “independent.”
The executive session to deliberate the appointment lasted more than a half hour.
Prior to that action, the DAC held a reorganization portion of the meeting, with Ramsey re-appointed chair and Scott Fabian re-appointed as secretary.
The DAC also got annual reports from Health Commissioner Andrew Henry, Environmental Director Marc Maragos, Nursing Director Hannah Piko and WIC Director Stephanie Chester.
“I want to commend the health department,” Ramsey said. “Everyone has done a tremendous job.”