Minutes - November 26, 2020 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Kelly Elliott
Mr. Bob Parker
Mr. Ian Peer
Mr. Matt Reid
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga

Regrets:

Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health (Secretary Treasurer)
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health (recorder)
Dr. Michael Clarke, CEO (interim)
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Beth Milne, Supervisor, Communications
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start
Ms. Maureen MacCormick, Director, Healthy Living
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Ms. Lynn Guy, Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Nicole Gauthier, Director (Interim), Healthy Organization
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Manager, School Health Team
Mr. David Pavletic, Manager, Food Safety and Healthy
Environments
Mr. Mirek Pawelec, Manager, Finance

Chair Maureen Cassidy called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

Ms. Arielle Kayabaga joined the meeting at 7:06 p.m.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest

Chair Cassidy inquired if there were any disclosures of conflicts of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. Aina DeViet, seconded by Mr. Ian Peer, that the AGENDA for the November 26, 2020 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Bob Parker, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the MINUTES of the October 15, 2020 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the MINUTES of the October 29, 2020 Special meeting of the Board of Health be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Parker seconded by Mr. Peer, that the MINUTES of the November 5, 2020 Finance & Facilities Committee be received.
Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Summary (Report No. 047-20)

Ms. Elliott, Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee provided an update on the PMBA Proposals, for the 2021 Budget.

Mr. Peer gave acknowledgment and commended the Finance and Facilities Committee on their work on the 2021 Budget.

Mr. Matt Reid inquired why the Board was approving an increase when the final budget would be passed in February.

Dr. Mackie noted that this is the proposed marginal change for next year, and further noted that COVID-19 response funding is anticipated to extend into 2021.

Mr. Reid asked if funding was not possible, if it would be put onto the region taxpayer.

Dr Mackie noted that if the government does not extend funding for COVID-19 response into 2021, Middlesex-London Health Unit would work to mitigate impacts to the region taxpayer. Dr. Mackie further noted that the purpose of the increase notice in November was to assist MLHU staff to see where the budget is headed in 2021.

Ms. DeViet asked if the Board can communicate this increase to the City of London and County of Middlesex.

Dr. Mackie noted that prior to Board approval, staff were not in a position to approach the City and County regarding this increase, and that MLHU would communicate with the City and County when Board approval was confirmed.

Ms. Elliott emphasized that the presented budget increase does not include the COVID program increase previously approved.

It was moved by Ms. Kelly Elliott, seconded by Mr. Parker that the Board of Health received and approved items in Report No. 027-20FFC re: “2021 Budget – PBMA Proposals”:

1) Receive Report No. 027-20FFC re: “2021 Budget – PBMA Proposals”; and
2) Approve Appendix A, PBMA Disinvestments totaling $385,984; and
3) Approve Appendix B, PBMA Investments totaling $337,197;and
4) Approve Appendix C, PBMA One-time Proposals totaling $100,000; and
5) Approve increase to 2021 budget of $762,182;

Carried

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 028-20FFC re: “Q3 Financial Update and Factual Certificate” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 029-20FFC, re: “Emergency Contract Award” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 030-20FFC re: “Governance Policy and By-Law Review”; and
2) Approve the new process for finance-related governance policies and by-laws appended to this report as Appendix A.
Carried

Board of Health – Executive Committee (Report No. 048-20)

Dr. Michael Clarke, CEO presented his report on an Executive Committee within the MLHU Board of Health. Dr. Clarke defined an Executive Committee as a committee being tasked with specific items to consider on behalf of the Board of Health. This would eliminate the need for the Board to call a Special Session.

Mr. Reid noted to the Board that it was preferred that this topic was discussed at the strategic planning level.

Mr. Peer suggested that the Board looks into creating a terms of reference for this committee.

Mr. Parker asked the Board if the word “create” could be replaced with “consider”.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health request the Governance Committee to undertake the development of the necessary By-laws and policies needed to consider a standing Executive Committee.
Carried

COVID-19 Recovery Recommendations: Emerging and Priority Public Health Issues (Report No. 049-20)

Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start presented her report on emerging and priority public health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Elliott noted that it was important to see mental health as a priority issue in Ms. Lokko’s report, especially within women in rural communities.

Ms. DeViet added that after reaching out to the Women’s Rural Resource Centre (Strathroy-Caradoc) that domestic violence was rising in families during the pandemic, and recognizing it is hard for women to get help. Ms. DeViet further added that this report is the type of work that the Women’s Caucus of Middlesex County Council is looking to accomplish.

Ms. Lokko added that the previous report (PMBA recommendations) connected to MLHU’s iHeal and Nurse-Family Partnership programs.

It was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No.049-20 re “COVID-19 Recovery Recommendations: Emerging and Priority Public Health Issues” for information; and
2) Approve the five priority areas for MLHU identified during COVID-19 recovery planning: food insecurity, domestic violence (intimate partner violence and child abuse), racism, substance misuse, and mental health.
Carried

Status Report on MLHU’s COVID-19 Response Capacity and Impacts on Non-COVID-19 Programs (Report No. 050-20)

Dr. Alexander Summer, Associate Medical Officer of Health provided a presentation on MLHU’s COVID-19 response capacity and impacts.

Ms. DeViet asked if the COVID-19 Alert mobile application had helped contact tracing.

Dr. Summers stated that only 1 case of a person positive with COVID-19 in Middlesex-London has come through this application and noted that while the region has not had much impact with the use this application, it is something worth further emphasizing.

Mr. Peer applauded MLHU for their effort in redeployment of staff and inquired how the workforce was doing during this time.

Dr. Summers spoke to the quality and character of MLHU staff and acknowledged that while there was fatigue and more work to come, that staff takes pride in their work and have pride for protecting the community.

Chair Cassidy stated that the Board is proud and fortunate to have the quality staff at MLHU and recognizing their hard efforts.

Mr. Parker asked if influenza (the flu) is impacting the region at this time?

Dr. Summers stated that the health unit recently released the first Influenza Surveillance Report of the year, and that there has been a massive uptake in the influenza vaccines coupled with the community already following public health measures.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 050-20 re: “Status report on MLHU’s COVID-19 response capacity and impacts on non-COVID-19 programs” for information.
Carried

Summary Report (Report No. 051-20)

Dr. Mackie stated that this report highlighted work within the Communications team in reaching different communities with public health messaging.

Ms. Elliott noted that the lower tiers would be great partners in spreading this information, and further that Thames Centre has a Low German community whom would also be a good community to reach.

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 051-20 re: “Summary Information Report - November 2020” for information.
Carried

Public Health Inspector Enforcement Actions and Inspection Activities – Q3 of 2020 and COVID-19 Support Activities (Report No. 052-20)

Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease presented the report on enforcement and inspection activities.

Mr. David Pavletic, Manager, Food Safety and Healthy Environments was also in attendance to answer any questions.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that Report No. 052-20 re: “Public Health Inspector Enforcement Actions and Inspection Activities – Q3 of 2020 and COVID-19 Support Activities” be received for information.
Carried

Impact of Redeployments on Public Health Inspection Activities (Report No. 053-20)

Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease presented the report on the impacts of redeployed staff and inspection activities.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Brennan, that Report No. 053-20 re: “Impact of Redeployments on Public Health Inspection Activities” be received for information.
Carried

Remote Work (Verbal Update)

Dr. Clarke provided an update on an expression of interest of MLHU staff for a remote work policy, and stated that a future report would come back to the board on the matter.

It was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health receive the Remote Work verbal update for information.
Carried

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – November (Report No. 054-20)

Dr. Mackie presented the activity report for November and showed a brief presentation on the Southwest Region Pandemic Response structure, as appended to the report.

It was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 054-20 re “Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – November” for information.
Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health receive items a), through f) and items h) through l) for information.

In addition, it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Kayabaga, that the Board of Health endorse item g), titled “Inclusive Economy London and Region”.
Carried

Other Business

Next Board of Health Meeting – December 10, 2020

Confidential

At 8:49 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health move in-camera to consider matters regarding labour relations and identifiable individuals, litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the Middlesex-London Board of Health, and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
Carried

At 11:16 p.m. it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health return to public session.
Carried

Adjournment

At 11:16 p.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the meeting be adjourned.
Carried

Maureen Cassidy
Chair

Christopher Mackie
Secretary-Treasurer