Minutes - December 9, 2021 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. Matt Reid (arrived at 7:32 p.m.)
Mr. John Brennan
Mr. Bob Parker
Mr. Mike Steele
Mr. Aaron O’Donnell
Ms. Tino Kasi
Mr. Selomon Menghsha
Ms. Mariam Hamou (arrived at 7:25 p.m.)

Regrets:

Ms. Kelly Elliott

Others Present:

Dr. Alexander Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Senior Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health/Associate Medical Officer of Health (Recorder)
Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization/Interim CEO
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, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Mr. David Jansseune, Assistant Director, Finance
Ms. Kendra Ramer, Manager, Strategy, Risk and Privacy

Chair Maureen Cassidy called the meeting to order at 7:04 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 discussed by the Board of Health members that the order of the agenda be adjusted for Mr. Reid to present the December 7, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting report when he was able to arrive to the meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Bob Parker, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health amend the December 9, 2021 Board of Health meeting agenda for the purpose of re-ordering Report No. 55-21 re: December 7, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Summary.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Mike Steele, seconded by Mr. Aaron O’Donnell, that the AGENDA for the December 9, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved as amended.
Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Mr. O’Donnell, seconded by Ms. Tino Kasi, .that the MINUTES of the November 12, 2021 Special Board of Health meeting be approved
Carried

It was moved by Mr. John Brennan, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the November 18, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the October 19, 2021 CEO and MOH Performance Review Committee meeting be received.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the November 11, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting be received.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the November 18, 2021 Governance Committee meeting be received.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the MINUTES of the December 1, 2021 CEO and MOH Performance Review Committee meeting be received.
Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

2021 Middlesex-London Health Unit Risk Management Report (Report No. 51-21)

Ms. Emily Williams, Director of Healthy Organization/Chief Executive Officer (Interim) introduced the 2021 Middlesex-London Health Unit Risk Management Report and turned over the presentation to Ms. Kendra Ramer, Manager, Strategy, Risk and Privacy. Risks are being reported to the Board by level of risk, and current priorities. It is noted that the Health Unit is legally required to update the Board annually on the highest risks facing the organization and would be reporting risks quarterly to the Board in 2022.

It was moved by Mr. John Brennan, seconded by Ms. Aina DeViet, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 51-21 for information; and
2) Approve the 2021 Middlesex-London Health Unit Risk Management Report (Appendix A).
Carried

Governance By-Law and Policy Review (Report No. 54-21)

Ms. Emily Williams introduced the Governance By-Law and Policy Review Report.

The policies presented are the final three policies needing to be reviewed for this period. The policies for discussion are Contractual Services (G-220), Procurement (G-230) and Reserve and Reserve Funds (G-250). Changes being identified by the Governance Committee members were minor in nature and separated the roles of Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer.

There was a brief discussion on the connection between the policy and process of the Procurement Policy (G-230), specifically the Board’s involvement in the administrative process of this policy. It was suggested that the Procurement Policy (G-230) be brought back to staff to modify the review date to March 31, 2022.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 54-21 re: “Governance By-law and Policy Review” for information;
2) Approve the governance policies appended to this report (Appendix B) as amended; and
3) Amend the review date of Report G-230 to March 31, 2022, 2022 and refer to staff.
Carried

Verbal COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update

Dr. Alexander Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health presented the verbal COVID-19 update.

Discussion about this verbal report included:
• Rapid rise in cases since the end of November and the start of December.
• Cases are being driven by indoor gatherings and Omicron variant.
• Additional public health measures are being implemented locally.
• 90.5% vaccination rate (at least 1 dose) for those over 12 years of age.
• Holiday gatherings are a risk currently.
• Rapid testing kits being given to school aged children before the winter break.
• The goal of having 50% of 5-11 year olds vaccinated by end of the year.
• Mobile clinics in low vaccination rate areas and in underserviced areas of the region will be planned in the New Year.

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

COVID Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Summary from December 7, 2021 (Report No. 55-21)

Mr. Matt Reid, Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee presented the Finance and Facilities Committee Summary from December 7, 2021.

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 25-21FFC re: “Q3 Financial Update and Factual Certificate” for information.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 26-21FFC re: “Financial Borrowing Update” for information.
Carried

Before the next report was presented to the Board, Chair Cassidy welcomed Councillor Mariam Hamou, who was newly appointed to the Middlesex-London Board of Health on December 7, 2021 from City of London Council.

Acting Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for November 2021 (Report No. 52-21)

Dr. Summers provided an update on activities for the month of November to the Board.

It was moved by Mr. Steele, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 52-21 re: “Acting Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for November” for information.
Carried

Chief Executive Officer (Interim) Activity Report for November 2021 (Report No. 53-21)

Ms. Williams provided an update on activities for the month of November to the Board. It was noted that this report is the first activity report from the Chief Executive Officer (Interim) and activities are described within the pillars of the CEO Performance Appraisal framework

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 53-21 re: “Chief Executive Officer (Interim) Activity Report for November” for information.
Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health endorse item a) re: Request for Annualized IPAC Hub Funding and Increase in Provincial Base Funding for information.
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health direct the Chair to write a letter of support to the Minister of Health for Annualized Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub Funding.
Carried

2022 Board of Health and Committee Meetings

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Steele, that the Board of Health approve the 2022 Board of Health and Committee meeting schedule.
Carried

Other Business

Chair Cassidy noted that this was the last meeting of two provincial appointees – Mr. Bob Parker and Mr. Aaron O’Donnell. Chair Cassidy and the Board of Health provided thanks and best wishes to Mr. Parker and Mr. O’Donnell for their service to the Board of Health.

The 2022 Inaugural Middlesex-London Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, January 20 at 7 p.m.

Confidential

At 8:10 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. O’Donnell, 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 and to approve confidential minutes from previous Board of Health and Committee meetings.
Carried

At 8:47 p.m., it was moved by Mr. O’Donnell, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Board of Health rise and return to public session.
Carried

Adjournment

At 8:48 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

Alexander Summers for
Christopher Mackie, Secretary-Treasurer