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Board of Health

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Overview

The Board of Health makes and adopts policies and rules for the county health department, provides guidance on health issues in the county and appoints the Health Director.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Chatham County Board of Health is the primary policymaking, rule-making, and adjudicatory body for the public health department (NCGS 130A-35) and is charged to protect and promote the public health of Chatham County (NCGS 130A-39). This policy defines the Board responsibilities, composition, meeting procedures, and adjudication procedures.

  • (a) A local board of health shall have the responsibility to protect and promote the public health. The board shall have the authority to adopt rules necessary for that purpose.
  • (b) A local board of health may adopt a more stringent rule in an area regulated by the Commission for Public Health or the Environmental Management Commission where, in the opinion of the local board of health, a more stringent rule is required to protect the public health; otherwise, the rules of the Commission for Public Health or the rules of the Environmental Management Commission shall prevail over local board of health rules. However, a local board of health may not adopt a rule concerning a private pool serving a single family dwelling otherwise exempt from regulation pursuant to G.S. 130A-280 or a rule concerning the grading, operating, and permitting of food and lodging facilities as listed in Part 6 of Article 8 of this Chapter and as defined in G.S. 130A-247(1), and a local board of health may adopt rules concerning wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems which are not designed to discharge effluent to the land surface or surface waters only in accordance with G.S. 130A-335(c).
  • (c) The rules of a local board of health shall apply to all municipalities within the local board's jurisdiction.
  • (d) Not less than 10 days before the adoption, amendment or repeal of any local board of health rule, the proposed rule shall be made available at the office of each county clerk within the board's jurisdiction, and a notice shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation within the area of the board's jurisdiction. The notice shall contain a statement of the substance of the proposed rule or a description of the subjects and issues involved, the proposed effective date of the rule and a statement that copies of the proposed rule are available at the local health department. A local board of health rule shall become effective upon adoption unless a later effective date is specified in the rule.
  • (e) Copies of all rules shall be filed with the secretary of the local board of health
  • (f) A local board of health may, in its rules, adopt by reference any code, standard, rule or regulation which has been adopted by any agency of this State, another state, any agency of the United States or by a generally recognized association. Copies of any material adopted by reference shall be filed with the rules.
  • (g) A local board of health may impose a fee for services to be rendered by a local health department, except where the imposition of a fee is prohibited by statute or where an employee of the local health department is performing the services as an agent of the State. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a local board of health may impose cost-related fees for services performed pursuant to Article 11 of this Chapter, "Wastewater Systems," for services performed pursuant to Part 10, Article 8 of this Chapter, "Public Swimming Pools", for services performed pursuant to Part 11, Article 8 of this Chapter, "Tattooing", and for services performed pursuant to G.S. 87-97. Fees shall be based upon a plan recommended by the local health director and approved by the local board of health and the appropriate county board or boards of commissioners. The fees collected under the authority of this subsection are to be deposited to the account of the local health department so that they may be expended for public health purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.  (1901, c. 245, s. 3; Rev., s. 4444; 1911, c. 62, s. 9; C.S., s. 7065; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1959, c. 1024, s. 1; 1963, c. 1087; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; c. 508; 1977, c. 857, s. 2; 1981, c. 130, s. 2; c. 281; c. 949, s. 4; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1985, c. 175, s. 1; 1989, c. 577, s. 2; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 944, s. 10; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 670, s. 2; 1995, c. 507, s. 26.8(c); 2006-202, s. 6; 2007-182, s. 2; 2025-94, s. 16.)

Membership and Terms

The following are the current members of the Chatham County Board of Health. The Board of Commissioner District they live in is noted, along with their original appointment date, and termination date.

  • Elizabeth Coykendall, MHA, NRP; Public Seat (District 4) 
    • Original Appointment Date: June 2026 (unexpired term)
  • Stephanie Freese, DVM; Veterinarian - CHAIR (District 1)
    • Original Appointment Date: February 2020, Termination Date: February 2026 (2nd term)
  • Eri Kim, LCSW; Public Seat (District 1)
    • Original Appointment Date: January 2026, Termination Date: January 2029 (1st term)
  • Zachary Brian, DMD, MHA, Dentist- VICE CHAIR (District 3)
    • Original Appointment Date: October 2021, Termination Date: October 2027 (2nd term)
  • Franklin Gomez Flores, District 5
    •  Original Appointment Date: January 2021, Termination Date concurrent with Board of Commissioners Term
  • Dana Iglesias, MD, MPH; Physician Seat (District 3)
    • Original Appointment Date: July 2024, Termination Date: July 2027 (1st term)
  • Sara Hofmeier, LCMHCS; Public Seat (District 1)
    • Original Appointment Date: July 2026 (unexpired term) 
  • Ashley Pappas, PharmD, MHA; Pharmacist Seat (District 4)
    • Original Appointment Date: July 2021, Termination Date: July 2027 (2nd term)
  • Catherine Crawford, PHD, RN, Nurse Seat (District 2)
    • Original Appointment Date: July 2024, Termination Date: July 2027 (1st term)
  • Alan Rimer, P.E.; Professional Engineer Seat (District 1)
    • Original Appointment Date: April 2022, Termination Date: April 2028 (2nd term)
  • Heather O'Mara, OD; Optometrist Seat (District 3)
    • Original Appointment Date: July 2024, Termination Date: July 2027 (1st term)

Chatham County welcomes residents who wish to contribute to their community by serving on one of our volunteer boards or committees. Learn more about applying.

Get Information

Visit the Meeting page for details about upcoming and past meetings.  

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Staff Liaison

For any questions related to the Board of Health, please contact Danielle White, Clerk to the Board, at danielle.white@chathamcountync.gov.