ASBM Board Meeting Minutes
Vestavia Hills City Hall
June 11, 2021
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, June 11, 2021, to conduct business. This meeting was held at Vestavia Hills City Hall. In attendance were: (1) Chris Megginson (member) (2) Noel Leithart (member), (3) Marietta Nero (member), (4) Christine Litas (member), (5) Stephanie Armstead (member), (6) Laura Reeder, (member), Mr. Brad Chynoweth, Board attorney and Dr. Porterfield Miller (Administrative Assistant). Ms. Stacey Bufkin (Chair) was not in attendance.
The members of the public in attendance were Mr. Matt Hart (attorney), Kelsey Cain and Bailey Phillips, all representing the Board of Medical Examiners (BME). Mrs. Nancy Megginson, LM, CPM and Rebekah Myrick, LM, CPM were also present.
The Board meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. There being a quorum of board members present, Dr. Porterfield Miller, Administrative Assistant, called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. and introduce Mr. Megginson as the facilitator for the meeting in the absence of Stacey Bufkin, the board chairperson.
Mr. Megginson welcomed the guests and swore in Laura Reeder as a new member of the Board and Stephanie Armstead as a reappointment. Dr. Porterfield Miller administered the oath to Mr. Megginson as a reappointment to the Board.
Mr. Megginson presented the March 11, 2021, meeting minutes for the Board’s approval. Copies of the minutes were provided to the members prior to the meeting for their review. After discussion of corrections, Ms. Leithart made a motion to adopt the March 11, 2021, minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Litas. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Reeder, aye, Armstead, aye, Megginson, aye, Leithart, aye, Litas, aye, Nero, aye. None opposed. The March 11, 2021, minutes were unanimously approved by the Board.
Reports:
Board Chair Report
There was no board chair report due to Ms. Bufkin’s absence.
Legal Council Report
Mr. Megginson reported that Ms. Bettie Carmack was no longer the Board of Midwifery acting attorney. He introduced Mr. Brad A. Chynoweth, Assistant Chief Deputy, Civil Division, as the new Midwifery Board attorney.
Administrative Assistant Report
The Administrative Assistant (Dr. Sharon Porterfield Miller) report consisted of a review of the administrative assistant quarterly report and the financial report dated March 12, 2021 to June 11, 2021. The Administrative Assistant attended the Examiner of Public Accounts Board/Commission member training for 2021 for the three sessions and set up the new e-mail address for the Board. The new email address was sent out to all Board members in a timely manner. The new address is: [email protected]
Old Business
AG Opinion (Newborn Screening Card)
It was reported that Ms. Bufkin did write to the AG office. But received no response. Mr. Chynoweth, Board Attorney, said he had researched it but found no request from the Midwifery Board. Mr. Megginson said that the last response was June 9, 2020. Mr. Chynoweth said that the AG office had a large number of attorneys and was quite large now. He stated that the turn-around time is about a month to reply to a request. Mr. Chynoweth suggested that the Board resubmit the request.
Changes to the Administrative Assistant contract
Ms. Leithart made a motion to table the Administrative Assistant contract until the next Board meeting, September,2021. Ms. Nero seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken all in favor;
Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. The motion passed unanimously.
Midwifery Education Commission
Ms. Leithart reported that Sen. McClendon has called the next meeting of the commission to study the feasibility of an education program in the state. The meeting will be held on July 27, 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama.
New Business
License Renewals and Applicant for New License
Mr. Megginson informed the Board that there were six (6) applications for renewals and one applicant for a new license. Ms. Leithart made a motion to go into Executive Session for thirty (30) minutes to discuss the good name and character of the six applicants for renewals and the applicant for New License. It was seconded by Ms. Litas.A roll call vote was taken; all in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. The motion passed unanimously. The Board went into Executive session at 11:30.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to leave Executive Session and return to General session. It was seconded by Ms. Armstead. A roll call vote was taken; all in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. The motion passed.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to return to the General session at 12:00. Ms. Reeder seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken; all in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. The motion passed.
Mr. Megginson reopened the General Session with a call for a motion to approve the applicants.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0013 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. None opposed. The motion passed. Applicant LM-0013 was approved.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0010 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, and Nero, aye. One abstained. The motion passed. Applicant LM-0010 was approved.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0011 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. One abstained. The motion passed. Applicant LM-0011 was approved.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0014 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. None opposed. The motion passed. Applicant LM-0014 was approved.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0012 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. None opposed. The motion passes. Applicant LM-0012 was approved.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0016 for renewal. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. The motion passes. None opposed. Applicant LM-0016 was approved.
Congratulations were offered by Mr. Megginson to Nancy Megginson, Laura Reeder, Sileah Brock,
Maria Cranford, Christine Litas, and Wetawnya Smith on their License Renewals.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to approve applicant LM-0020 on application for new license. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor; Leithart, aye, Armstead, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye, and Nero, aye. None opposed. The motion passes. Applicant LM-0020 was approved as an Alabama Licensed Midwife. Mr. Megginson offered congratulations to Andrea L. Moon from North Alabama.
There were no comments or concerns from the public.
Ms. Leithart made a motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Ms. Nero. All in favor. None opposed. The meeting adjourned at 12:07.
Respectfully submitted by,
Dr. Sharon Porterfield Miller
Administrative Assistant
.