HHS Board

Buncombe County HHS Board Meeting Recap Date: September 25, 2026

The Buncombe County Health and Human Services (HHS) Board convened for a virtual public meeting on September 25, 2026, to review operational updates, approve administrative records, and address community service programs. The meeting opened with the standard approval of the September agenda and the minutes from the August 2026 meeting. During the review of the August minutes, the board noted a necessary correction regarding measles statistics, clarifying that reported deaths were national figures rather than local data. This correction was accepted, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on committee updates and program changes. The Community Health Committee reported on upcoming public health accreditation scheduled for October 7, noting that a hybrid interview model (in-person and Zoom) was chosen to minimize operational disruption. The Social Services/Community Safety Committee highlighted staffing adjustments, including unfreezing vacancies in adult services and the adoption of the state-wide "NC Path" documentation program. Meanwhile, the Community Opportunity Committee provided an overview of energy assistance programs, warning that funding for Emergency Assistance has plummeted to less than 25% of previous levels, which may lead to a difficult winter for residents.

The board also heard a presentation from Kimberly Fullerton, Interim Economic Services Director, regarding the new General Assistance (GA) Program, which replaced the Homeowner Grant. Key changes include expanded eligibility for renters, a lower reserve limit of $5,000, and tiered payment amounts based on income. Additionally, the board approved the appointment of Captain Thomas Kelly as an incoming HHS Board member. A motion to approve Captain Kelly was made and seconded, passing with one abstention. The Executive Committee will now bring the four approved candidates to the Buncombe County Commission for final appointment.

Regarding community input, no specific public commenters spoke during a designated period; however, board members and staff offered remarks. A board member thanked staff for their participation in accreditation interviews and praised the work on the General Assistance Program. The Chairperson marked the second anniversary of Hurricane Helene, honoring first responders and recovery efforts, noting that the storm caused the greatest floods since 1916.

Several follow-up actions were explicitly agreed upon during the meeting. Speaker 2 agreed to correct the August minutes to reflect that measles deaths were national statistics. Speaker 2 also agreed to send out a link to the Helene Recovery Plan article after the meeting. Finally, Speaker 7 stated that the next step is to bring the four approved candidates to the Buncombe County Commission for appointment, which involves working with the clerk to add them to a future Board of County Commission agenda. These actions represent the immediate next steps for the board’s administrative and personnel processes.