April 19, 2012 - Minutes

Members Present

Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery (Chair)

Mr. David Bolton

Ms. Patricia Coderre

Mr. Al Edmondson

Dr. Francine Lortie-Monette

Ms. Doreen McLinchey

Mr. Marcel Meyer (Vice Chair)

Ms. Nancy Poole

Mr. Mark Studenny

Regrets

Ms. Denise Brown

Mr. Stephen Orser

Others Present   

Dr. Graham Pollett, Medical Officer of Health & Chief Executive Officer, Secretary-Treasurer

Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services

Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention

Ms. Diane Bewick, Director, Family Health Services

Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications                                              

Mr. Ross Graham, Manager, Special Projects

Mr. Jeremy Hogeveen, Coordinator, Vector-Borne Disease Program

Mr. Iqbal Kalsi, Manager, Environmental Health

Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations

Ms. Sherri Sanders, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health (Recorder)

Mr. Rick Shantz, Director, Information Technology

Mr. Paul Sharma, Manager, Oral Health Team

Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control

Ms. Louise Tyler, Director, Human Resources and Labour Relations Services

Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator

Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services

Media Outlets     

Ms. Kelly Pedro                London Free Press

Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery, Chair of the Board of Health, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Chair Poletes Montgomery expressed condolences, on behalf of the Board, to the families of former staff members Ms. Sonia El-Birani and Dr. Dana Winterburn.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Poletes Montgomery inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict of interest to be made. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. Coderre, seconded by Mr. Studenny that the April 19, 2012, Agenda be approved.

Carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Ms. McLinchey, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Minutes of the March 22, 2012, Board of Health meeting be approved.

Carried

Reports with Delegations

1)   Report No. 052-12 re 2011 Vector-Borne Disease Report: West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Eastern

      Equine Encephalitis Surveillance and Control Activities for 2011

Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services, introduced Mr. Iqbal Kalsi, Manager, Environmental Health, and Mr. Jeremy Hogeveen, Coordinator, Vector-Borne Disease Program, who assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. A copy of their PowerPoint presentation is filed with the minutes.

Mr. Kalsi reported that the first seasonal complaint about standing water was received on March 2, 2012, and the first mosquito larva was identified on March 12, 2012.

It was moved by Mr. Edmondson, seconded by Ms. Coderre that Report No. 052-12 re 2011 Vector-Borne Disease Report: West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Surveillance and Control Activities for 2011 be forwarded for information to London City Council, Middlesex County Council and the Councils of Middlesex Municipalities. 

Carried 

2)   Report No. 053-12 re Proposed All-Ages Bike Helmet Legislation for the 2012 Association of Local Public Health Agencies Annual Meeting

Mr. Wally Adams introduced Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention, who assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is filed with the minutes.

In response to a question about the comparison of the number of child and adult hospitalizations and emergency room visits in London-Middlesex due to cycling related-injuries, Dr. Graham Pollett, Medical Officer of Health & Chief Executive Officer, provided the following statistics from the 2009 report entitled, Leading Causes of Unintentional Injury: A Statistical Profile of Middlesex-London:

Hospitalizations 34.1 per 100,000 population for ages 0-19 years

31.2 per 100,000 population for ages 20 years and over

Emergency room visits 1188.0 per 100,000 population for ages 0-19 years

384.2 per 100,000 population for ages 20 years and over

The full report can be found online at the following link: http://www.healthunit.com/(F(NDD223BTOuDWXLrlV_XBGgsaqalzLkAURZvqfK62-Uyq0E54CUza3AZbFoYX6PhHS7UbJG-cgyo2Ez-DqqRlKY6Cmyqru-fGQ6RBk50NIhw1))/articlesPDF/15210.pdf

It was moved by Ms. McLinchey, seconded by Ms. Coderre:

1.    That the Board of Health endorse the resolution related to provincial all-ages bike helmet legislation attached as Appendix A to Report No. 053-12; and further

2.    That the resolution be forwarded to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) for consideration at the 2012 alPHa Annual Meeting.

Carried

3)   Report No. 054-12 re Accountability Agreement Performance Indicator Targets

Mr. Ross Graham, Manager, Special Projects, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.

Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services, explained the Health Unit’s newly proposed performance indicator targets versus the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) proposed targets for Indicator #4 (gonorrhoea follow-up), #9a (Hepatitis B immunizations school-aged children) and #9b (HPV immunizations school-aged children).

Mr. Wally Adams addressed the proposed change in performance indicator targets from those of the MOHLTC for Indicator #12 (Fall-related emergency room visits in older adults).

The issue was raised by several Board members about how can realistic performance indicator targets be set when Health Unit staff members do not know their program funding levels for 2012. Board members were reminded that this is the negotiation period for the indicators and that Health Unit staff will continue to provide input toward realistic targets.

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Dr. Lortie-Monette that the Board of Health endorse the proposed response to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Accountability Agreement performance indicator targets, as attached as Appendix A to Report No. 054-12.

Carried

4)   Report No. 055-12 re Bylaw and Policy Revision to Comply with Ontario Public Health Organizational

      Standards

Mr. Ross Graham, Manager, Special Projects, reviewed all proposed changes to Health Unit Policies 1-010 and Appendix A (Bylaws), 1-020, 1-030, and 9-070.

It was moved by Ms. Coderre, seconded by Mr. Bolton:

1.    That the Board of Health endorse the proposed revisions identified in Appendix A to Report No. 055-12 (Policy 1-010 re Structure and Responsibilities of the Board of Health); and further

2.    That the Board of Health review Board of Health Bylaws No. 1 through 5 and adopt the proposed amendments identified in Appendix B to Report No. 055-12.

Carried

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Mr. Edmondson:

3.    That the Board of Health approve that the amended Bylaws attached as Appendix B to Report No. 055-12 receive all three readings at one meeting.

Carried

It was moved by Dr. Lortie-Monette, seconded by Ms. Poole: 

4.    That the Board of Health endorse the proposed revisions identified in Appendix C to Report No. 055-12 (Policy 1-020 re Orientation for Board of Health Members); and further

5.    That the Board of Health endorse the proposed revisions identified in Appendix D to Report No. 055-12 (Policy 1-030 re Strategic Planning); and further

6.    That the Board of Health endorse the proposed revisions identified in Appendix E to Report No. 055-12 (Policy 9-070 re Annual Report to the Public).

Carried

Action Reports

5)   Report No. 056-12 re Bed Bug Resource Program – Funding Update

It was moved by Mr. Edmondson, seconded by Dr. Lortie-Monette that staff be directed to advise each community partner involved in the Bed Bug Resource Program that provincial funding for this initiative has ended effective April 1, 2012; therefore, the Middlesex-London Health Unit must reduce its level of involvement in the program.

Carried

Information Reports

6)   Report No. 057-12 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – April

Dr. Pollett explained the current situation regarding the 2012 revised budget with the City of London and Middlesex County. He also reported on the status of the provincial budget. Dr. Pollett will be addressing the City of London’s Community Services Committee Monday, April 23, 2012, about the role and responsibilities of the Board of Health.

The issue of fluoridation of the City of London’s drinking water supply is being discussed by City Council’s Civics Works Committee meeting on Monday, April 23, 2012. Health Unit staff will be in attendance. The Committee will be reviewing the follow-up staff report regarding the questions/issues raised during the public meeting that was held at Centennial Hall on January 25, 2012.

Dr. Pollett and Chair Poletes Montgomery attended the Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) April 2-4, 2012, in Toronto. Chair Poletes Montgomery reported that the conference was excellent and stimulated new ideas. Dr. Warshawsky and Mr. Paul Sharma, Manager, Oral Health Team, were presenters at the conference. Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health, released a report on Dental Health. Dr. King’s report will be the topic of a future Report to this Board of Health.

7)   Report No. 058-12 re Board of Health Agenda Package Distribution Process

Mr. Rick Shantz, Director, Information Technology, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. He demonstrated how the Board of Health section on the extranet will be used for Board members to electronically access Board of Health agenda packages. This is a password protected site that is part of www.healthunit.com.  Board members will receive more information about accessing the extranet before the May 2012 Board of Health meeting. Mr. Shantz’s PowerPoint presentation is filed with the minutes.

8)   Report No. 059-12 re Reappointment to the Board of Health

9)   Report No. 060-12 re Baby Friendly Initiative

10) Report No. 061-12 re School Travel Planning: Perspectives on a Process to Improve Active Transportation, Safety and Air Quality in School Zones in London

11) Report No. 062-12 re Increasing Workplaces Health Promotion Capacity Through Health @ Work Display Kits

12) Report No. 063-12 re Seniors Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012

13) Report No. 064-12 re Board of Health Self-Assessment – April

In response to a question about discussing the Board of Health Performance Assessment results in camera, Dr. Pollett reminded Board members of the previously provided Health Unit Solicitor’s advice that the assessment process does not meet the criteria under the Municipal Act for in camera meetings.  The information in the surveys will be compiled to ensure the results are presented as a summary that maintains anonymity and confidentiality.  Staff were requested to seek a legal opinion as to whether the Board could meet in camera to discuss individual Board members’ performance. It was agreed that completion of the first self assessment survey for the year would be deferred until this matter is resolved.

It was moved by Dr. Lortie-Monette, seconded by Ms. McLinchey that Reports listed as Items #6 through #13 be received for information.

Carried

In Camera

At 9:25 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Edmondson, seconded by Dr. Lortie-Monette that the Board of Health move in camera for the purpose of discussing personal matters about an identifiable individual, including Board employees.

Carried

At 9:45 p.m., it was moved by Ms. McLinchey, seconded by Ms. Poole that the Board of Health rise and return to public session and report that progress had been made concerning personal matters about an identifiable individual, including Board employees.

Carried

It was announced that Dr. Pollett has advised he will be retiring effective September 28, 2012.

It was moved by Ms. McLinchey, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the Confidential Minutes of the March 22, 2012, Board of Health meeting be approved.

Carried

OTHER BUSINESS

Please Note - The Health Unit Volunteer Reception will be held prior to the May Board Meeting in the Middlesex Room (County Building) beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Next scheduled Board of Health Meeting – Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:00 p.m.

Correspondence

There were no questions re correspondence.

Adjournment

At 9:50 p.m., it was moved by Dr. Lortie-Monette, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the meeting be adjourned.

Carried                             

VIOLA POLETES MONTGOMERY                                               

Chair                                                                                      

GRAHAM L. POLLETT

Secretary-Treasurer