There is hereby created a board of health for the county and each of the cities of Temple, Belton, Holland, Killeen, Rogers, Troy, Harker Heights and Nolanville, to be known as the Bell County board of health, which board shall be composed of fifteen members, all of whom shall be residents of the county. Three (3) of the members shall be appointed by the city council of Killeen, three (3) of the members shall be appointed by the city commission of Temple, two (2) of the members shall be appointed by the commissioner’s court of the county, two (2) of the members shall be appointed by the city council of Belton and one (1) each by the city councils of Rogers, Holland, Troy, Nolanville and Harker Heights. Not more than one of the members appointed by each governmental unit shall be a physician. The term of office for each member shall be three (3) years except that, of the members initially appointed, five shall serve for three (3) years, five shall serve for two (2) years and five shall serve for one (1) year, to be determined by lot at the first meeting of the board. Thereafter their successors shall hold office for three (3) years. The members of the board of health may be reappointed at the end of their respective terms. The county judge, the director of the county health department and the president of the Bell County Medical Society shall serve as ex-officio members of the county board of health without voting privileges, and shall act in an advisory capacity of the board.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 2, adopted 8/1/66)
Upon the death, resignation or removal of any of the members of the county board of health, the governmental unit which had appointed said member shall nominate and appoint a successor as a member of the board, who shall then hold his membership until he shall resign or be removed from said board. In the event the best interest of any of the governmental units may require the removal of any member of the board, his removal shall be effected by the appointment of his successor by unanimous vote of the commission, council or court which appointed him.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 3, adopted 8/1/66)
Immediately after the enactment of this order by each governmental unit, the county board of health shall as soon thereafter as is practicable meet and organize and appoint one of its members as chairman, and one as vice-chairman. The director of the county health department shall serve as secretary to said board. Following the original meeting, the county board of health shall hold such regular meetings at such place and dates as may be determined by the board and such other special meetings as may be called by the chairman or by a majority of the members of the board upon giving twenty-four hours’ notice to all members thereof. A majority of the total membership of said board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all matters to be considered by said board.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 5, adopted 8/1/66)
There is hereby created the office of county health department director and such officer shall be appointed jointly by the commission, councils, and commissioner’s court that are parties to this agreement upon recommendation by the county board of health from an approved list of qualified health officers furnished by the commissioner of the department of state health services. Such director shall be a currently licensed physician and also qualified in public health work. Such director shall be qualified under and shall conform to the merit system prescribed by the state board of health and shall devote such time as may be required to the performance of the duties of county health department director as necessary. The county health department director shall not engage in the private practice of medicine.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 6, adopted 8/1/66)
The director of the county health department shall be in complete charge of all administrative and technical public health activities of the department and shall direct the personnel in the employ of the health department. The director shall appoint, discharge, or transfer all employees of the health department subject to the approval of the county board of health, and such employees shall be thoroughly qualified to perform their respective duties.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 7, adopted 8/1/66)
The functions of the county board of health shall be as follows: The board shall serve in a supervisory capacity in the enforcement of the health laws, rules, and regulations of the state, the county and the several cities to the director of the county health department and shall make recommendations to the director and to the city commission, city councils and the commissioner’s court of the county, named herein, concerning the status of public health matters in the county. It shall institute, through the director, studies of any condition which may affect the life, health, or the preservation and improvement of health in the county; it shall be concerned with the elimination of causes of disease or peril to life or health, and shall make recommendations to the director concerning these matters; it shall make recommendations to the director and to other responsible officers concerning the elimination of nuisances and conditions detrimental to health; it shall make recommendations concerning the operations of public institutions insofar as health matters are concerned; it shall engage in an active program of health education; it shall act as a coordinating agency in providing adequate medical and dental care, and shall maintain a close working relation with the medical and associated professions, the non-official health agencies, lay organizations and individuals concerned with the promotion of public health; and it shall make recommendations to such director and each governmental unit concerning the needs and budget of the county health department. A report of the activities and the financial condition of the county health department shall be made to any of the governmental units at such time as the summary be requested by any such governmental unit.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 8, adopted 8/1/66)
This article shall be subject to amendment and repeal at any time by any governmental agency represented on this board, and any office created hereby and the term of any officer holding same shall be subject to abolishment and termination at any time by joint action of the city commission of the City of Temple, the city councils of the Cities of Rogers, Holland, Belton, Killeen, Harker Heights, Nolanville, and Troy, and the commissioner’s court of the county.
(Ordinance 550, sec. 9, adopted 8/1/66)