Minutes - October 21, 2021 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

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

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Senior Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health / Associate Medical Officer of Health (Recorder)
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization/Interim Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Carolynne Gabriel, Communications Coordinator/Executive Assistant to the Board of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Acting Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Mr. Andrew Powell, Manager, Safe Water, Rabies and Vector Borne Disease
Ms. Alison Locker, Acting Manager, Population Health Assessment and Surveillance
Dr. Jessica Reimann, Epidemiologist
Ms. Jennifer Proulx, Manager, Nurse Family Partnership
Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, Oral Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament, London West

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

Chair Cassidy introduced former Board Member and current Member of Parliament, Ms. Arielle Kayabaga. The Chair and Board of Health provided Ms. Kayabaga with a gift to acknowledge Ms. Kayabaga’s service on the board and congratulated her on her election to the House of Commons.

Chair Cassidy introduced the newest member of the Middlesex-London Board of Health, Mr. Selomon (Sel) Menghsha.

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 Mr. Bob Parker, seconded by Mr. Matt Reid, that the AGENDA for the October 21, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved. 

Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Ms. Aina DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the September 16, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the September 15, 2021 Governance Committee meeting be received.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the October 12, 2021 Special Governance Committee meeting be received.
Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

Governance Committee Meeting Summary from October 21, 2021 (Verbal)

Mr. Bob Parker, Chair of the Governance Committee presented the Governance Committee Summary from October 21, 2021.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Mike Steele, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 21-21GC re: “2021-22 Provisional Plan Progress Update” for information; and
2) Approve extending the phases of the Provisional Plan by six months.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 22-21GC re: “Governance By-law and Policy Review” for information; and
2) Approve the governance policies appended to this report with the recommendations accepted for G-030 regarding signing authority, G-480 regarding media releases, and G-490 regarding responsibility for maintaining board reports, to take effect on October 21, 2021.
Carried

Program Update: Food Safety and Healthy Environments

Mr. Andrew Powell, Manager, Safe Water, Rabies, and Vector Borne Disease provided an update on the Food Safety and Healthy Environments program, on behalf of Mr. David Pavletic. Highlights of this program included:
• Establishing a comprehensive, risk-based, housing inspection program with increased focus on Vulnerable Occupancies.
• Building on the work from the MLHU Vulnerability Assessment to deliver interventions aimed at addressing the impacts from climate change through vulnerability planning.
• Risk assessment and research of emerging food preparation processes with a focus on high risk foods.
• Revamping of existing disclosure website to incorporate other program area inspections.
• Implementing new Hedgehog software program for public health inspectors.

Program Update: Safe Water, Rabies and Vector Borne Disease

Mr. Andrew Powell, Manager, Safe Water, Rabies, and Vector Borne Disease provided an update on his program. Highlights of this program included:
• Lyme Disease Tick Surveillance – MLHU has now been identified as a risk area for Lyme Disease.
• Rabies investigations, with approximately 1,000-1,200 rabies investigations per year.
• Enhanced Private Well Water Program.
• Small Drinking Water Systems owner/operator training and dissemination operator’s guide.

Program Update: Nurse Family Partnership

Ms. Jennifer Proulx, Manager, Nurse Family Partnership provided an update on her program. Highlights of this program included:
• MLHU is the lead agency for NFP in Ontario (intensive PHN visiting program for young, first-time, socially disadvantaged parents). The NFP program continued to operate in 2020 and 2021 with services provided through phone, virtual, and home visits.
• iHEAL: intervention for women who are in the transition of separating from an abusive partner with the goal of promoting safety, health and well-being. The lead iHEAL PHN position was filled and iHEAL education completed in June 2021; implementation planning has been underway throughout the summer months and the program is ready to accept referrals.
• In addition to meeting their intended program objectives, the NFP and iHEAL programs will continue to support MLHU’s COVID-19 efforts and address MLHU’s priority recovery areas.

MLHU Staff and International Travel (Report No. 44-21)

Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization/Interim Chief Executive Officer presented this report.

It was noted by Ms. Williams that within the past hour of this board meeting, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) had relaxed the guidance regarding non-essential international travel.

It was noted that while the Board appreciated this report, the Board noted that they should not have the legal purview to enforce personnel matters of staff at MLHU, and it was determined this request was deemed operational.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 44-21 re: “MLHU Staff and International Travel” for information;
Carried

London Community Recovery Network: Letter of Commitment (Report No. 45-21)

Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health presented this report. It was noted that MLHU has been a part of the London Community Recovery Network (LCRN) since it began in mid-2020, to support community connection and local recovery during the pandemic. Dr. Mackie noted that the framework from the LCRN aligned with public health values.

It was moved by Ms. Tino Kasi, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 45-21 re: “London Community Recovery Network – Letter of Commitment” for information; and
2) Direct the Board of Health Chair to send a letter to City staff endorsing the London Community Recovery Framework.
Carried

Program Update: Population Health Assessment and Surveillance

Ms. Alison Locker, Acting Manager, Population Health Assessment and Surveillance provided an update on her programs. Highlights of this program included:
• Monitor, assess, and report on the health of the Middlesex-London community.
• Better understand local health priorities to inform local program planning.
• Develop and maintain reporting resources, e.g., Community Health Status Resource.
• Planning and reporting support for COVID-19 case & contact and vaccination responses, e.g., develop and maintain MLHU’s COVID-19 dashboard.
• Develop and maintain a system to monitor the impacts of crystal methamphetamine in our community.

The Implementation of a Local Surveillance System for Fatal and Non-Fatal Impacts Associated with Crystal Methamphetamine Use (Report No. 46-21)

Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health introduced Dr. Jessica Reimann, Epidemiologist to discuss the Crystal Methamphetamine Surveillance dashboard.

Dr. Reimann noted that crystal methamphetamine use has increased in our region, and displayed the crystal methamphetamine data from the health unit website. Funding for this project came from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It was noted that the Middlesex-London region is one of the first to collect this data.

It was moved by Mr. Steele, seconded by Ms. Kasi, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 46-21 re: “The Implementation of a Local Surveillance System for Fatal and Non-Fatal Impacts Associated with Crystal Methamphetamine Use” for information.
Carried

Verbal COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update

Dr. Alex Summers and Dr. Chris Mackie presented the verbal COVID-19 update.

Discussion about this verbal report included:
• COVID-19 cases are still circulating within the community.
• High incident rates are occurring in those under age 11.
• Substantial school exclusions have occurred.
• Public health measures are keeping the community vigilant.
• Locally, our vaccination coverage is higher than most in the province.

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

Board of Health Vaccination Policy (Verbal)

Chair Maureen Cassidy introduced this verbal report, regarding a Board of Health Member Vaccination Policy.

It was suggested that this policy be seen first by the Governance Committee. It was noted that there were minor differences between the proposed policy and the MLHU Staff Vaccination policy:
• Self-attestations of board members would be accepted;
• Progressive discipline would not occur and instead the Board could choose to remove a member and;
• Testing would not be applicable to board members.

It was noted that the Board of Health was required to add this item to the agenda by motion before continuing discussion.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health Vaccination Policy be added to the agenda for discussion.
Carried

It was requested by Chair Parker (Governance) to review the draft policy before moving. The Board read the policy. There was a question regarding the purpose of the policy if there would not be in person anytime soon, and it was noted in discussion from Board Members that staff were abiding by this policy, and Board Members of a public health organization should also do the same.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive this verbal report for information; and
2) Approve the Board of Health Member Vaccination Policy.
Carried

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for October 2021 (Report No. 47-21)

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

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. John Brennan, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 47-21 re: “Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for October 2021” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. Kelly Elliott, that Report No. 49-21 re: Submission to the Ministry of Health re: online sales of vapour products be added to the agenda for discussion.
Carried

Submission to the Ministry of Health re: online sales of vapour products (Report No. 49-21)

Ms. Donna Kosmack, Manager, Oral Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control presented this report.

It was noted that MLHU was being asked to comment on the online sales of vapour (vaping) products. Concerns include lack of age verification and online sales of these products to youth that are underage. 80% of underage youth in the region whom Tobacco Enforcement Officers have spoken with have procured their products on a website or social media.

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Mr. O’Donnell, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 49-21 re: “Submission to the Ministry of Health re: online sales of vapour products”  for information; and,
2) Direct the Medical Officer of Health to send a letter to the Ministry of Health responding to the request for information on online vapour product sales, attached as Appendix A.

Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health:
1) Endorse correspondence item a) re: Support for Local Boards of Health; and
2) Receive correspondence item b).
Carried

Other Business

The next Middlesex-London Board of Health meeting will be on Thursday, November 18th at 7 p.m.

Confidential

At 9:07 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Brennan, that the Board of Health will move in-camera to consider personal matters regarding identifiable individuals, including municipal or local board employees, labour relations and employee negotiations, advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose and to approve confidential minutes from previous Board of Health and Committee meetings.
Carried

At 11:38 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health rise and return to public session.
Carried

Adjournment

At 11:39 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the meeting of Board of Health be adjourned.
Carried

Maureen Cassidy
Chair

Christopher Mackie
Secretary-Treasurer