Minutes - February 13, 2020 - Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting

Members Present:

Ms. Kelly Elliott (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet
Mr. Ian Peer

Regrets:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy
Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Secretary-Treasurer
Ms. Lynn Guy, Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health (Recorder)
Mr. Brian Glasspoole, Manager, Finance
Mr. Jordan Banninga, Manager, Program Planning and Evaluation
Ms. Cynthia Bos, Manager, Human Resources
Ms. Kendra Ramer, Manager, Strategic Projects
Ms. Nicole Gauthier, Manager, Privacy, Risk and Governance
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention
Mr. Jeff Cameron, Manager, IT
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start

At 9:00 a.m., Chair Elliott called the meeting to order.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Elliott inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

The walk-on report “One-Time Funding Requests to the Ministry of Health” (Report No. 002-20FFC) was added to the agenda.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the amended AGENDA for the February 13, 2020 Finance & Facilities Committee meeting be approved. Carried

Business

2020 Proposed Budget (continued from the February 6 meeting) (Report No. 002-20FFC)

The committee continued its review of the 2020 Annual Service Plan (ASP), beginning on page 289. The floor was opened to discussion when requested by Board members.

Continuing under the Substance Use and Injury Prevention Standard, there was discussion in regard to the distribution of child booster seats. Ms. Brittan provided an update, noting that pre-booster seats are closely monitored and are provided to families with the most critical need.
The Falls Prevention and Healthy Aging Program is part of the Healthy Living Division. Chair Elliott suggested that the Health Unit consider increasing collaboration within the county, as many seniors there do not have personal support workers.

Also reportable under the Substance Use and Injury Prevention Standard is the Opioids and Other Drugs Program in the Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases Division (EHID). Chair Elliott noted that she had spoken with the fire chief in Thames Centre who advised her that they are starting to carry Naloxone kits in the fire engines. Chair Elliott suggested that program staff get in touch with lower-tier fire stations to provide more information.

In regard to the Road and Off-Road Safety, Mr. Peer asked about program funding. Ms. Brittan responded that the Health Unit might receive some funding under a newly announced grant.

Dr. Mackie reported on the Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network (SWTCAN) and noted that a rumour had been circulating recently that the TCANs would be dissolved. He advised that this is not the case and that, during the Public Health Modernization consultations, the importance of the TCANs had been noted.

Regarding the Tobacco Control and Electronic Cigarettes Program, discussion ensued on having sufficient resources to meet the program goals, perform the policy work, and meet regulations.

The Violence Prevention Program was mentioned, but it was felt that no further discussion was needed.

In regard to the Seniors Dental Program, it was noted that the program is 100% funded for this year. Dr. Mackie said it was not clear, at this time, what the funding will look like for next year.

Under the Safe Water Standard, the following programs were discussed:

Drinking Water: Travel expenses decreased over the past year due to the recently completed Public Health Inspector review. An intentional process was undertaken to make travel more efficient.
It was noted that for private well inspections, consultations are carried out on a by-request basis. Dr. Mackie provided additional information.
Chair Elliott asked that the Health Unit reach out to lower-tier municipalities to inquire whether MLHU could provide materials to be included in their mailouts, such as brochures and/or links to Facebook posts about well water, testing, consultations, etc.

Recreational Water: No additional discussion was required.

Small Drinking Water System: No additional discussion was required.

One of the many programs in the Healthy Organization Division, Strategic Projects was reviewed under the Delivery of Public Health Programs and Services Standard. No additional discussion was required.

Finance was reviewed under the Fiduciary Requirements Standard. Ms. DeViet asked Mr. Glasspoole to provide an update on capital assets.

Procurement was also reviewed under the Fiduciary Requirements Standard. Ms. DeViet asked about competitive bids and what is meant by decreasing the level of activity. It was noted that due to the relocation, the number of bids was higher than normal in 2019, but should decrease the following year.

For the Governance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations, and Privacy and Records programs in the Healthy Organization Division, reportable under the Good Governance and Management Practices Standard, it was felt that no additional discussion was needed.

There was some discussion related to the Risk Management program, also in the Healthy Organization Division. Dr. Mackie advised the Committee about a local cannabis vendor who had been selling vaping products contrary to regulations, and the attendant enforcement-related risks with respect to meeting the Health Unit’s mandate.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Finance & Facilities Committee recommend that the Board of Health:
1) Approve the 2020 Proposed Budget in the gross amount of $35,309,015, as appended to Report No. 002-20FFC re: “2020 Proposed Budget”;
2) Forward Report No. 002-20FFC to the City of London and the County of Middlesex for information; and
3) Direct staff to submit the 2020 Proposed Budget to the Health Unit’s funding agencies in the formats they require.
Carried

One-Time Funding Requests to the Ministry of Health (Report No. 002-20FFC)

Dr. Mackie noted that the Ministry has two funding processes, one of them for one-time funding requests. Mr. Glasspoole provided additional information on three such requests, which will be submitted to the Ministry for consideration and which pertain to:
• Public Health Inspector practicum positions;
• Funds for replacement of furniture; and
• Funds to cover increased staffing expenditures in regard to Novel Coronavirus

These one-time funding requests will be added to the Annual Service Plan submission. It is not known when or if the funding will be received.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Finance & Facilities Committee make recommendation to the Board of Health to:
1) Approve Appendix A, outlining One-Time Funding Requests totalling $511,055; and
2) Direct staff to submit the funding requests in the 2020 Annual Service Plan to the Ministry.
Carried

Other Business

Next FFC meeting: March 5, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

Adjournment

At 9:39 a.m., it was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

At 9:39 a.m., Chair Elliott adjourned the meeting.

KELLY ELLIOTT
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer