EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 019

THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY

BILL PURCELL, MAYOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 19

SUBJECT: Healthy Nashville Leadership Council

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government desires to achieve improvements for the health of its citizens by assessing citizen’s health status, the current health systems for essential services, and potential forces of change affecting the health of its citizens and establishing strategic priorities for the improvement of health; and

WHEREAS, much of the chronic disease burden is preventable and the underlying contributors to chronic diseases are limited to a number of health-damaging behaviors practiced by people on a daily basis, including unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity; and

WHEREAS, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are risk factors which together are responsible for at least 300,000 preventable deaths each year; and

WHEREAS, healthy diets could prevent at least $71 billion per year in medical costs, lost productivity and lost lives, and

WHEREAS, the establishment of lifelong health-related habits occurs in childhood and therefore, public health measures need to reach young people early before damaging behaviors are adopted.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Purcell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby direct and order the following:

1. Healthy Nashville Leadership Council created: A council of Davidson County citizens to be called the Healthy Nashville Leadership Council (hereinafter Council) shall be created.

2. Council’s duties: The Council shall be charged with:

a. Assessing the health status and quality of life of Davidson County residents, assessing health systems for essential services, and assessing potential forces of change, and

b. Establishing strategic priorities and mobilizing community initiatives to achieve improvements in health.

3. Council members: The Council shall be composed of eighteen (18) members appointed by the Mayor.

a. One of the members shall be a member of the Metropolitan Board of Health; and

b. One of the members shall be the Director of Health or her/his designee.

c. Other appointees to the council shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of health care organizations, community organizations, and other interested community members.

d. Members of the Council shall be appointed with a conscious intention of reflecting a diverse mixture with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, and age.

e. The Mayor shall consult with the Director of Health in selecting persons to be appointed to the Council.

4. Terms for Council members:

a. With the exception of the Director of Health, the regular term of a member of the council shall be three (3) years.

b. However, of the initial membership of the Council, five (5) members will serve one (1) year, six (6) members will serve two (2) years, and six (6) members will serve three (3) years so that the terms are staggered as to replace no more than one third (1/3) of the members each year. [Note: Mayor will designate the term length for each initial Council member at the time of appointment.]

c. Members of the Council shall continue in office until the expiration of the terms for which they were respectively appointed and until such time as their successors are appointed.

5. Vacancies: A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as a regular appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

6. Compensation: Members of the Council shall not be compensated for services rendered.

7. Chair: The Council shall elect a chair from among its members.

8. Officers: The Council shall elect other officers as the Council finds necessary and appropriate.

9. Quorum: A quorum for approving decisions by the Council shall consist of a majority of the currently filled positions on the Council.

10. Staff: The Metropolitan Public Health Department shall provide staff support for the Council.

Ordered, Effective and Issued:

Bill Purcell
Metropolitan Mayor

Date: December 31, 2002