ASBM Board Meeting Minutes
Vestavia Hills City Hall
September 10, 2021
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, September 10, 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) Laura Reeder, (member), and (6) Stacey Bufkin, Chair. Mr. Brad Chynoweth, (Board attorney) and Dr. Porterfield Miller (Administrative Assistant) were also in attendance. Stephanie Armstead (member) was absent.
The members of the public in attendance were Mr. Matt Hart (ALBME, attorney), Stephen McCormick, (ALaHA), and Rebekah Myrick, LM, CPM.
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, Board Chair, Stacy Bufkin, opened the meeting at 11:30 AM and proceeded to preside over the meeting.
Ms. Bufkin presented the June 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. Ms. Leithart made a motion to adopt the June 11, 2021, minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Reeder. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. None opposed. The June 11, 2021, minutes were unanimously approved by the Board.
Reports:
Board Chair Report
Old Business:
AG Opinion (Newborn Screening Cards)
The Chair asked the attorney the status of the Newborn Screening cards. Mr. Chynoweth
explained to the Board the law and the status of the Newborn Screening cards. Mrs. Leithart made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss the legal ramifications of the Newborn Screening cards with a time limitation of 30 minutes. It was seconded by Mr. Megginson. It was certified
by the attorney. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye,
Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passed with none opposed. The Board entered into Executive Session at 11:32. Discussion took place.
Mr. Megginson made the motion to reenter the General session, and it was seconded by Ms. Leithart. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye,
Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passes with none opposed. The Board reentered General session at 12:05. After reentering General session Ms. Leithart made a motion to send a letter to ADPH regarding their rule on midwives not performing the Newborn Screening. It was seconded by Ms. Reeder.
A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye,
Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passed with none opposed.
Changes to Administrative Assistant Contract to State Fiscal Year
Ms. Leithart made a motion to go into Executive session to discuss the good name and character with a time limitation of 10 minutes of the Administrative Assistant’s contract. It was seconded by Mr. Megginson. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye,
Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passed with none opposed. The Board entered into Executive Session at 12:10. Discussion took place.
A motion was made by Ms. Litas and seconded by Ms. Leithart to reenter the General Board meeting.
A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye,
Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passed with none opposed. The Board reentered General session at 12:18.
Board Chair, Stacey Bufkin expressed to the Administrative Assistant the joy of working with her and praised her organization skills. Ms. Leithart and Mr. Megginson expressed the same sentiment. The
Chair asked Dr. Porterfield Miller to review the contract and notify the Board if there are changes to be made to the contract. Ms. Leithart pointed out one change to the contract would be the dates for submitting invoices. The dates should be changed to reflect ½ month payment for September.
Mr. Chynoweth agreed to make the changes and get the revised contract to Dr. Porterfield Miller by the end of the working day on Friday, September 10, 2021. Dr. Porterfield Miller agreed to review it and get it back to the Board by Monday, September 13, 2021.
A motion was made by Ms. Leithart and seconded by Ms. Reeder to change the Administrative Assistant contract to reflect the State’s Fiscal Year 2022 with the changes made by the Board’s attorney and to offer the new contract to Dr. Porterfield Miller. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor: Bufkin, aye, Leithart, aye, Reeder, aye, Megginson, aye, Litas, aye and Nero, aye. The motion passed with none opposed.
Legal Council Report
The Board’s attorney, Mr. Chynoweth had no report for the Board at this time.
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 June 11, 2021 to September 10, 2021. All State Quarterly reports have been filed with the State in a timely manner and Complaint No. 2021-0701-3 has been resolved without incident.
New Business
Midwifery Education Commission (Noel Leithart). Ms. Leithart reported that the Midwifery Education Commission had met in July and August. Discussion at the meetings revolved around which courses would be needed to fulfill requirements for students to achieve an associates degree in midwifery. Graduation rates, liability requirements, location of college campus, need for instructors and the need for clinical requirements were also mentioned. Representatives from Wallace State Community College at Selma were present as well. Ms. Leithart expressed the need for more preceptors to teach students the clinical portions.
Comments or concerns form the public
There were no concerns or comments from the public.
There was a motion made by Mr. Megginson and seconded by Ms. Leithart to adjourned the
meeting. A roll call vote was taken. All in favor. None opposed. The meeting was
adjourned at 12:45.
Respectfully submitted by,
Dr. Sharon Porterfield Miller
Administrative Assistant