Minutes - March 18, 2021 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present: 

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. Matt Reid
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga
Mr. Bob Parker
Ms. Kelly Elliott
Mr. Mike Steele
Mr. Aaron O’Donnell
Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health/MOH/AMOH and Communications Coordinator (Recorder)
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization/Interim CEO
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Ms. Maureen MacCormick, Director, Healthy Living
Mr. Joe Belancic, Manager, Procurement and Operations
Mr. Mirek Pawelec, Manager, Finance
Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network/Acting Manager, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
Ms. Jody Paget, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Disease
Mr. Andrew Powell, Manager, Safe Water, Rabies and Vector Borne Disease

Chair Maureen Cassidy called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Ms. Arielle Kayabaga joined the meeting at 7:15 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. Bob Parker, seconded by Mr. Matt Reid, that the AGENDA for the March 18, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Ms. Kelly Elliott, seconded by Ms. Aina DeViet, that the MINUTES of the February 18, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Kelly Elliott, seconded by Ms. Aina DeViet, that the MINUTES of the March 4, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting be received.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Kelly Elliott, seconded by Ms. Aina DeViet, that the MINUTES of the February 18, 2021 Governance Committee meeting be received.
Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Summary (Report No. 12-21)

Mr. Matt Reid, Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee presented the meeting summary from March 4, 2021.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 06-21FFC “Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act – 2020 Record of Employee’s Salaries and Benefits” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 07-21FFC, “2020 Vendor / VISA Payments” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Mike Steele, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 08-21FFC, “2020 Board of Health Remuneration” for information.
Carried
It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 09-20FFC, “Single Source Contract Award - KPMG” for information.
Carried

Overview of Health Unit Programs/Divisions

Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health provided a brief overview on health unit programs/divisions with a presentation. The presentation included budget information, number of full-time staff, and highlights of each of the divisions.

Summary Information Report – March 2021 re: Concentrations of Nicotine in Vaping Products (Report No. 13-21)

Ms. Maureen MacCormick, Director, Healthy Living presented the March 2021 Summary Report. Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network was also present to field questions.

Discussion regarding this report included:
• The health unit’s submission to Health Canada regarding the proposal to limit concentrations of nicotine in vaping products
• Ontario having restricted vaping product sales to specialty vape stores but is not a full solution
• Vaping products are still accessible to youth online
• The amount of nicotine (in vaping products) is excessive and youth are being attracted to the flavours and smells they give off
• The awareness and knowledge of vaping risks are becoming more mainstream
• Legislation throughout Canada differs by province on nicotine concentrations
• Some vaping products can have up to 3 times as much nicotine as a cigarette

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 13-21 re: Summary Information (March 2021) report re: “Concentrations of Nicotine in Vaping Products Regulations” for information.
Carried

Program Update: Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network

Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, provided an update on the Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network.

Program Update: Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control

Ms. Donna Kosmack, Acting Manager, provided an update on the Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control program.

Highlights of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control program included:
• Enforcement of the Skin Cancer Prevention Act
• Food literacy – deliver community-based food literacy programming with community partners; co-lead provincial collaborative exploring development/validation of food literacy measurement tool with priority populations
• Middlesex-London Food Policy Council - support the strategic plan to create a healthy, sustainable and accessible food system in London and Middlesex County; support the development of a Middlesex London Food Directory
• Increase awareness among youth and young adults about the harms associated with smoking tobacco and/or cannabis, vaping and the use of e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco
• Continued enhancement/evaluation of tobacco cessation services delivered by the Health Unit to reach priority populations
• Support multi-unit dwelling, hospital and post-secondary institutions’ efforts to ensure compliance with the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 including the development and promotion of smoke-free policies
• Enforcement of provincial and municipal legislation that regulates the sale, distribution and use of tobacco, vapour and cannabis products

Cold Chain Incident (Report No. 14-21)

Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease presented the Cold Chain Incident Report. Ms. Jody Paget, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Disease was also present to field any questions.

• This situation was caused by a toggled compressor, which resulted in a rapid decrease in temperature
• Fast response after hours to save half of the vaccine
• Ministry of Health notes that MLHU has done due diligence to rectify the situation, and will be providing MLHU with one-time replacement purchase funding for this fridge
• It is noted that there was no loss COVID-19 vaccine during this incident
• This fridge was just inspected in January 2021 and passed

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 14-21 re: “Vaccine Cold Chain Incident Resulting in Product Loss” for information.
Carried

Program Update: Vaccine Preventable Disease

Ms. Jody Paget, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Disease provided an update on her program. Highlights of this program included:
• Emphasis on increasing capacity for immunization delivery in the community by enhancing partnership with health care providers and offer on-going support to provide immunizations for their clients
• Continued implementation of the School Pupils Act with a goal of Screening/Enforcement for all elementary and high schools grades JK-Grade 12
• Concentrating efforts on screening in child care facilities in accordance with the Child Care Early Years Act

COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update (Verbal)

Dr. Alexander Summers, Dr. Mackie and Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization presented the verbal COVID-19 update.

Discussion about this verbal report included:
• 28 cases of COVID today (as of March 18, 2021), with a partial resurgence of transmission
• Variants of concern are being seen regionally and across the province
• 60,000 vaccines given as of March 18, 2021
• North London Optimist Community Centre (NLOCC) Vaccination Clinic opened March 17
• Mobile clinics are being explored through the region
• After first vaccine appointments, staff at the clinic will book second doses for the client before they leave, 112 days out, with the same vaccine received
• Maximum rollout would be around 5000-6000 doses of vaccine per day
• Working with partner agencies to assist those who need assistance to get their vaccine
• MLHU’s line of credit was extended due to COVID costs, with it being extended by $8 million as a revolving credit, no fees and interest (1.7%) will only be charged if it is in overdraft

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. Arielle Kayabaga, that the Board of Health receive the verbal report on COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update for information.
Carried

Vector Borne Disease Program: Request for Proposal (Report No. 16-21)

Mr. Joe Belancic, Manager, Procurement and Operations, presented this report on a request for proposal (Larvicide) for the Vector Borne Disease Program. Mr. Joe Belancic, Manager, Procurement and Operations and Mr. Andrew Powell, Manager, Safe Water, Rabies and Vector Borne Disease were also present to field questions.

Part A (Larval Mosquito Surveillance and Control) is to service 38,000 stormwater basins in the region, where there were 2 bids with a minor increase. The successful bid was from the Canadian Centre for Mosquito Management, for the amount of $89,460 before taxes.

Part B (Mosquito Identification and Viral Testing) is to test for the West Nile Virus. There were 38k stormwater basins, 2 bids, minor increase but within scope of the budget.

It was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health:

1) Receive Report No. 16-21 re: Vector-Borne Disease Program: Request for Proposal;
2) Approve award of the contract for the Vector Borne Disease Program, Part A - Larval Mosquito Surveillance & Control, to Canadian Centre for Mosquito Management (CCMM) Inc. in the amount of $89,460 (before taxes); and
3) Approve award of the contract for the Vector Borne Disease Program, Part B - Mosquito Identification and Viral Testing, to Entomogen Inc. in the amount of $21,025 (before taxes).
Carried

Program Update: Procurement and Operations

Mr. Joe Belancic, Manager, Procurement and Operations provided an update on his program.

• Lead the development and implementation of the MLHU relocation project
• Oversee purchasing and receiving, storage and materials management
• Advise on purchasing strategies
• Conduct performance management of all MLHU supplier contracts
• Provide recommendations and assist in the development or revision of policies and procedures related to procurement and operations
• Identify and take action to reduce health and safety risks associated with operations and facilities
• Respond to over 500 facilities requests per year
• Currently leading the fit-up of 3 new mass vaccination sites capable of 4900 vaccinations per day

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for March 2021 (Report No. 15-21)

Dr. Mackie presented Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for March 2021.

It was moved by Mr. John Brennan, seconded by Ms. Tino Kasi, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 15-21 re: “Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for March 2021” for information.
Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Ms. Kasi, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the Board of Health endorse correspondence item a) re: “Keeping Ontario Open” from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive correspondence items b) through g).
Carried

Other Business

• Next Board Meeting is Thursday, April 15th, at 7 p.m.

Confidential

At 9:09 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health will move in-camera to consider matters regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, labour relations or employee negotiations, and to approve confidential minutes from previous Board of Health and Committee meetings.
Carried

Adjournment

At 10:02 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Kayabaga, seconded by Ms. Kasi, that the meeting of the Board of Health be adjourned.

Maureen Cassidy
Chair

Christopher Mackie
Secretary-Treasurer