January 21, 2016 - Minutes

Members Present

Ms. Trish Fulton
Mr. Jesse Helmer
Mr. Marcel Meyer
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery
Ms. Nancy Poole
Mr. Kurtis Smith
Mr. Mark Studenny
Mr. Stephen Turner
Ms. Joanne Vanderheyden

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health & CEO
Ms. Elizabeth Milne, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health & Communications (Recorder)
Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Child Health Team
Mr. Jordan Banninga, Manager, Strategic Projects
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Public Health Nurse, Healthy Communities & Injury Prevention
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Corporate Services
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start
Mr. John Millson, Associate Director, Finance
Ms. Patricia Simone, Manager, Emergency Management
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Ms. Suzanne Vandervoort, Director, Healthy Living

Media Outlets

None

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health & CEO, called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and welcomed all in attendance to the 2016 inaugural meeting of the Middlesex-London Board of Health.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) Of Interest

Dr. Mackie inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict of interest to be declared. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

 Dr. Mackie requested the following changes to the agenda items: that the minutes from previous meetings be reviewed and approved following the election of the 2016 Chair and Vice-Chair and that an update on Syrian Newcomers be provided by Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, following the scheduled information items on today’s agenda.

It was moved by Mr. Helmer, seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that the AGENDA as amended for the January 21, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Meeting Procedures

Election of 2016 Board of Health Executive and other Procedures (Report 001-16)

Dr. Mackie opened the floor for nominations for the position of Chair of the Board of Health for 2016.

It was moved by Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Meyer that Mr. Jesse Helmer be nominated for Chair of the Board of Health for the year 2016. Carried
Mr. Helmer accepted and agreed to let his name stand.

Dr. Mackie invited further nominations three times. Hearing none, it was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Mr. Studenny,

1) That nominations for the position of Chair be closed, and

2) That Mr. Jesse Helmer be named by unanimous vote as Chair of the Middlesex-London Board of Health for 2016. 
Carried

Chair Helmer then took over the Chair. Chair Helmer opened the floor for nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Middlesex-London Board of Health for 2016.

It was moved by Ms. Poletes-Montgomery, seconded by Mr. Turner that Mr. Smith be nominated for the position of Vice-Chair for 2016.

Mr. Smith respectfully declined.

It was moved by Ms. Poletes-Montgomery, seconded by Ms. Poole that Mr. Hunter be nominated for the position of Vice-Chair for 2016.

Mr. Hunter respectfully declined.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer that Ms. Vanderheyden be nominated for the position of Vice-Chair for 2016.

Ms. Vanderheyden agreed to let her name stand.

Chair Helmer invited further nominations three times. Hearing none, it was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer,

1) That nominations be closed, and

2) That Ms. Vanderheyden be named by unanimous vote as Vice-Chair of the Middlesex-London Board of Health for 2016.
Carried

Chair Helmer invited nominations for members of the Finance and Facilities Standing Committee for 2016. Chair Helmer reviewed the Terms of Reference that state that the Chair of the Board of Health (Mr. Helmer) and Vice –Chair (Ms. Vanderheyden) are to sit on the Finance and Facilities Committee.

The following Board members brought their names forward to stand for the Finance and Facilities Committee: Mr. Marcel Meyer, Mr. Ian Peer, Ms. Trish Fulton.

Chair Helmer invited further nominations three times. Hearing none, it was moved by Mr. Hunter, seconded by Ms. Fulton that nominations be closed. Carried

Therefore, the Finance and Facilities Committee for 2016 will consist of the following Board of Health members:
• Mr. Jesse Helmer
• Ms. Joanne Vanderheyden
• Mr. Marcel Meyer
• Mr. Ian Peer
• Ms. Trish Fulton

Chair Helmer invited nominations for members of the Governance Standing Committee for 2016. Chair Helmer reviewed the Terms of Reference that state the Chair of the Board of Health (Mr. Helmer) is to sit on the Governance Committee. The following Board members brought their names forward to stand for the Governance Committee: Mr. Kurtis Smith, Mr. Trevor Hunter, Mr. Mark Studenny, Mr. Stephen Turner.

Chair Helmer invited further nominations three times. Hearing none, it was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Peer that nominations be closed. Carried

All nominees agreed to let their names stand. Therefore, the Governance Committee for 2016 will consist of the following Board of Health members:
• Mr. Jesse Helmer
• Mr. Kurtis Smith
• Mr. Trevor Hunter
• Mr. Mark Studenny
• Mr. Stephen Turner

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the MINUTES for the December 10, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried
Mr. Meyer clarified when Mr. Studenny left the meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden, that the CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES for the December 10, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Business Arising From the Minutes

None

Delegations and Committee Reports

Finance and Facilities Committee (FFC) Report, January 14th Meeting (Report No. 002-16)

Committee Chair Ms. Trish Fulton updated the Board of Health on January 14, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee (FFC) agenda. Ms. Fulton outlined the 2016 Program Budget Templates that were presented for 5 different service areas, in the accompanying packages Appendices A through E.

Board members asked to have the budgets presented all at once, once FFC has the chance to review the final Program Budget Templates at its January 28, 2016 meeting.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health receive for information the FFC January 14, 2016 Report update for information. Carried

2016 Budget Process (Report 01-16FFC)

• It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Finance & Facilities Committee review the 2016 Planning and Budget Templates for Human Resources and Corporate Strategy attached as Appendix A to Report No. 01-16FFC.Carried
• It was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Ms.Vanderheyden that the Finance and Facilities Committee review the 2016 Planning and Budget Templates for Finance & Operations Services attached as Appendix B to Report No. 01-16FFC.Carried
• It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Finance and Facilities Committee review the 2016 Planning and Budget Templates for Information & Technology Services attached as Appendix C to Report No. 01-16FFC. Carried
• It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Peer that the Finance and Facilities Committee review the 2016 Planning and Budget Templates for the Office of the Medical Officer of Health attached as Appendix D to Report No. 01-16FFC. Carried
• It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that the Facilities Committee review the 2016 Planning and Budgeting Templates for Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services attached as Appendix E to Report No. 01-16FFC. Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health endorse the Finance and Facilities Committee’s recommendation to defer approval of these components of the 2016 budget until all budget proposals are available at the February 18, 2016 Board of Health meeting. Carried

Ms. Poletes Montgomery commended staff and the Senior Leadership Team for the work and effort that goes into the quality of the Program Budget Templates for the Health Unit’s budgeting process. Dr. Mackie thanked the Board of Health for the gracious comments and advised that they would be passed along to staff who had been involved.

Governance Committee – Verbal Report

Committee Chair Mark Studenny provided a verbal update to the Board, following the Governance Committee which commenced prior to the Board meeting, at 6:00 p.m.

The following items were summarized from the Governance Committee Meeting:
• Governance Committee reporting calendar.
• The Medical Officer of Health and CEO Performance Appraisal. Ms. Di Cesare advised that the Governance Committee initiated and established a sub-committee for the review process. The report will come to the Board of Health for review and approval in April.
• Critical Elements of Board Governance. Ms. Di Cesare summarized this information report which will be used as a guidance document and included in work going forward.
• Governance Committee Terms of Reference. Ms. Di Cesare advised that the Committee directed staff to make changes to the Terms of Reference, based on recommendations from Mr. Graham Scott.
• Board of Health Nomination and Appointment Process.
• Self-Assessment and Evaluation. Ms. Di Cesare advised that the tool will be revised and initiated. The tool will go out to Board members at the February 18, 2016 Board of Health meeting. Results will be presented to Governance Committee in April.

Dr. Mackie added that the Committee recommended changes to the Board of Health self-assessment tool, which will need to be approved by the Board once finalized. Dr. Mackie outlined some of the changes that will be made, which include adding items to prioritize Board of Health work and adding a Likert Scale for each question.

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Mr. Hunter, to initiate the Board of Health Assessment tool, with changes outlined by Dr. Mackie above. Carried

The next meeting of the Governance Committee will be at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2016.

Chair Helmer made a note that the nomination of the Secretary-Treasurer was not included in the election proceedings. Chair Helmer requested a motion to nominate Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO as Secretary Treasurer to the Board of Health for 2016.

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Ms. Fulton that Dr. Christopher Mackie be named Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Health for the year 2016. Carried

Recommendation Reports

Cannabis: A Public Health Approach (Report No. 003-16)

Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Child Health Team and Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Public Health Nurse, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention introduced Appendix A to Report 003-16, Cannabis: A Public Health Approach. Following the presentation, Ms. Albanese opened the floor for questions.

Discussion ensued about the following items: healthcare savings costs as a result of legalization, costs associated with establishing the capacities of a legalized system, control of production within a legal framework, health risks associated with use and how the recommendations for this report compare to other Health Units Provincially and where they might lead, if approved by the Board.

Ms. Rhonda Brittan advised that strict regulation and control in the context of legalization would provide better control over messages to youth regarding use and health harms..

Dr. Mackie advised that this recommendation aligns well with other public health institutions and is within the broad framework that the Federal Government has set out. The Health Unit’s advocacy will focus on preventing the harms associated with Cannabis use and by bringing this report and its recommendations to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) the MLHU hopes to be well prepared to mitigate any health harms associated with Cannabis use as the Federal Government moves towards legalization. Putting this policy forward would allow public health to be a part of the conversation in regulating and controlling Cannabis use in the context of legalization.

It was moved by Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Hunter that the Board of Health:

1. authorize staff to advocate for an evidence-based public health approach to Cannabis in the context of legalization, including strict regulation for the non-medical use of cannabis, as well as its production, distribution, product promotion and sale; and
2. establish baseline data and mechanisms to monitor local use of cannabis in the coming years; and
3. forward this report and appendices to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, the Ontario Public Health Association, Ontario Boards of Health, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the federal Minister of Health, and other elected officials as appropriate. Carried

Patients First – Proposed Changes to Public Health & Ontario’s Health System (Report 004-16)

Dr. Mackie clarified that this was an information report and summarized the role that the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) would play in public health funding. Dr. Mackie advised that the Board’s authorities would not change.

Discussion ensued about the following:
• Changes to the public health funding model
• The boundaries and jurisdictions served by the Local Health Integration Network and how that might affect the funding and direction of the Middlesex-London Board of Health.

It was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Ms. Fulton that the Board of Health receive Report No. 004-16: “Patients First – Proposed Changes to Public Health & Ontario’s Health System” for information. Carried

Information Reports

Columbia Sportswear Donations (Report 005-16)

Ms. Patricia Simone, Manager, Emergency Management, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.

Dr. Mackie summarized the work that has been done by Ms. Simone and the Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) team to process these items for newcomers and at-risk clients.

It was moved by Mr. Turner, seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that Report No. 005-16 re Columbia Sportswear Donations be received for information. Carried

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – January (Report 006-16)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that Report No. 006-16 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – January be received for information. Carried

Other Business

Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan provided an update to the Board of Health on the status of Syrian Newcomers arriving in London, advising that community agencies supporting Newcomers are currently overwhelmed. In order to respond to concerns expressed by community agencies, the Health Unit activated its Incident Management System (IMS) earlier this week to assist in proving immunizations to the Newcomers housed at three interim lodging sites.

Discussion ensued about the Syrian Newcomer resettlement process. Dr. Mackie added that the Health Unit will continue to work closely with community agencies to ensure Newcomers’ health needs are being addressed in a timely manner.

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Smith that the Board of Health receive correspondence items a) through e).
Carried

Upcoming Meetings

Finance and Facilities Committee – Thursday, January 28, 2016, 9:00 a.m.
Board of Health – Thursday, February 18, 2016 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Mackie requested that the Board of Health review and approve the meeting schedule for 2016.

Mr. Meyer noted the proposed change to March Board of Health meeting and moved to approve the schedule for 2016, with that change.

It was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Ms. Poole, that the Board of Health approve the 2016 proposed meeting dates. Carried

Adjournment

At 8:57 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

JESSE HELMER
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer