Minutes - November 11, 2021 - Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting

Members Present:

Mr. Matt Reid (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet
Ms. Maureen Cassidy
Mr. Aaron O'Donnell 

Regrets:

Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization / Interim Chief Executive Officer
Mr. David Jansseune, Assistant Director, Finance
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Maureen MacCormick, Director, Healthy Living
Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Acting Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Senior Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health/Associate Medical Officer of Health (Recorder)
Mr. Pat Harford, Manager, Information Technology
Mr. Brian Glasspoole, Manager, Finance

Chair Matt Reid called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.

Disclosures of Conflict of Interest

Chair Reid 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 Ms. Maureen Cassidy, that the AGENDA for the November 11, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting be approved.
Carried

Approval of Minutes 

It was moved by Ms. Cassidy, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the MINUTES of the September 2, 2021 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting be approved.
Carried

Confidential

At 8:04 a.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the Finance and Facilities Committee will move in camera to consider matters regarding labour relations or employee negotiations and personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
Carried

At 9:19 a.m., it was moved by Ms. Cassidy, seconded by Ms. DeViet, that the Finance and Facilities Committee rise and return to public session from closed session.
Carried

New Business

2022 Budget – PBMA Proposals (Report No. 22-21FFC)

This report was introduced by Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization / Interim CEO. Ms. Williams outlined the funding and expenses situation, along with a reminder of the budget process:

• Funding from the Province of Ontario will remain at 2019 levels.
• Will include mitigation funding, COVID-19 extraordinary funding and recovery funding.
• Inflationary costs for staffing are approximately $500,000 (salary increases as negotiated in Collective Agreements).
• COVID-19 Case and Contact Management, vaccine and other program supports will continue.
• The approved PBMA proposals would go to the November 18, 2021 Board of Health meeting.

It was noted that investments were divided into COVID-related investments and base budget-related investments.

Ms. Williams presented Healthy Organization’s division proposals:

• Disinvestment of ASO Contribution - $150,000.
• Investment of 7 FTE COVID-19 Human Resources personnel - $496,611.
• Investment of 4 FTE COVID-19 Procurement and Operations personnel - $190,387.
• Investment of 4 FTE COVID-19 Informational Technology personnel - $214,186.
• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Enhancement of Occupational Health and Safety - $107,532.
• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Payroll and Benefits Administrator - $95,569.
• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Communications Supervisor - $107,532.
• Investment of 0.5 FTE COVID-19 Program Assistant (Communications) - $34,191.

Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Acting Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases presented the proposals for the Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases division:

• Investment of 16 FTE for COVID-19 Vaccine Preventable Disease Enhancement (4 Public Health Nurses and 1 Associate Manager) - $1,778,163.
• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Public Health Inspector - $85,296.

It was noted that 2022 would require significant COVID-19 investments for vaccine and case/contact management support. It was also noted that following the SARS and H1N1 epidemics, additional resources were provided to health units across the province in recognition for the additional work required.

Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health presented the Office of the Medical Officer of Heath’s division proposals:

• Investment of 4 FTE COVID-19 Informatics Support - $289,824.
• Investment of 1.6 FTE COVID-19 Active Screeners - $39,000 *to June 2022.
• Investment of 34.5 FTE COVID-19 Infectious Disease Control Enhancement (8 PHN, 4 PHI, 2 Associate Managers) - $12,327,601.
• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Manager - $142,595.
• Investment of 3 FTE COVID-19 Client Service Representatives (CSR) - $157,308.

There was a question regarding a discrepancy for the CSR proposal ($163,600 vs. $157,308). Ms. Williams noted she would come back with a response.

• Investment of 1 FTE COVID-19 Program Evaluator - $71,419.
• Investment of 0.5 FTE Client Service Representative - $26,218.
• Investment of 1 FTE Epidemiologist - $120,514.
• Investment of 1 FTE Outreach Worker - $64,446.

Due to quorum being lost before all of the proposals could be reviewed, the Committee asked for a recess to continue the meeting later.

At 10:08 a.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the Finance and Facilities Committee recess the November 11, 2021 meeting until 4:15 p.m.
Carried

At 4:20 p.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the Finance and Facilities Committee reconvene the November 11, 2021 meeting.
Carried

Dr. Summers continued with presenting proposals from the Office of the Medical Officer of Heath:

• Investment of 0.5 FTE Program Evaluator - $42,585

Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer presented proposals for the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer:

• Investment of 3.5 FTE for Anti-Black Racism, Diversity and Inclusion, and Indigenous Reconciliation Work (0.5 Program Assistant, 1 Manager, 2 PHN) - $366,287

It was noted that the Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation Manager would be two manager roles to engage with community partners at appropriate levels.

Ms. Williams presented the last base budget proposal for Healthy Organization:

• Investment of 1 FTE Human Resources Specialist, Diversity and Inclusion - $93,598

Ms. Williams noted that the proposed COVID-19 investments total $16,163,432.38, funded by the Province and does not include mass vaccination costs. The base budget investments are $1,221,072. City of London funding would be increased by $610,000 and County of Middlesex funding would increase by $128,000. It was noted that, prior to the 2021 budget year, MLHU has not asked for increases from City partners in 12 years. Ms. Williams added that even with funding, there would be a shortfall of $592,000.

It was noted by the Committee that with a ratio of 70/30 % funding split, there would be a shortfall of $180,000, which was still a concern. There was a discussion on what program areas could see disinvestments or investments that could be delayed to allow for priority investments.

It was suggested by the committee to come back to the Board of Health on November 18, 2021 with a reduction of the proposals to reduce cost, and with alternatives.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the Finance and Facilities Committee make a recommendation to the Board of Health to:
1) Receive Report No. 20-21FFC re: “2022 Budget – PBMA Proposals”;
2) Approve Appendix A, PBMA One-Time Disinvestment totaling $150,000 savings;
3) Direct staff to explore further options for proposals within Appendix B;
4) Refer Appendix B to the Board of Health;
5) Approve Appendix C, PBMA COVID-19 Investments totaling $16,166,970 cost.
Carried

IT Hardware: Preferred Recycling Process (Report No. 23-21FFC)

This report was introduced by Ms. Williams who introduced Mr. Pat Harford, Manager, Information Technology. Mr. Harford noted that the work had been started (safely recycling 30 end of life desktop computers from 50 King Street) and selected Greentec through the procurement process.

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the Finance and Facilities Committee make a recommendation to the Board of Health receive Report No. 23-21FFC re: “IT Hardware: Preferred Recycling Process” for information.
Carried

Other Business

The next meeting of the Board of Health Finance and Facilities Committee will be held Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

Adjournment 

At 5:05 p.m., it was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Ms. Cassidy, that the meeting be adjourned.
Carried

Matthew Reid
Chair

Alexander Summers for Christopher Mackie
Secretary-Treasurer