June 16, 2016 - Board of Health Meeting Minutes

Members Present:

Mr. Jesse Helmer (Chair)
Mr. Trevor Hunter
Ms. Trish Fulton
Mr. Marcel Meyer
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Nancy Poole
Mr. Kurtis Smith
Ms. Joanne Vanderheyden (Vice-Chair)

Media Present: 

Ms. Hala Ghonaim, London Free Press

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 & Infectious Disease
Mr. Jordan Banninga, Manager, Strategic Projects
Mr. Geoff Bardwell, Regional HIV/Aids Connection
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Manager, Healthy Communities & Injury Prevention
Ms. Sonja Burke, Regional HIV/Aids Connection
Mr. Todd Coleman, Epidemiologist, Foundational Standard
Ms. Shaya Dhinsa, Manager, Sexual Health
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Corporate Services
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Mr. Brian Lester, Regional HIV/Aids Connection
Ms. Heather Lokko, Manager, Healthy Start
Ms. Joann Majerovich, Field Epidemiologist, Public Health Agency of Canada
Mr. John Millson, Associate Director, Finance
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Ms. Suzanne Vandervoort, Director, Healthy Living

Chair Helmer called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) Of Interest

 Chair Helmer inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict(s) of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

Chair Helmer noted an amendment to the agenda, where he requested a verbal update from staff regarding the accusations of misconduct in a letter from Syrian Newcomers to the Community Care Access Centre (CCLC) London.

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden seconded by Mr. Smith that the AGENDA for the June 16, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved as amended. Carried

Delegations

7:05 - 7:15 p.m.

Ms. Trish Fulton, Chair, Finance and Facilities Committee (FFC) re: Item #1 - Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting June 8, 2016 Report No. 039-16.

Receive: June 8, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee meeting minutes

Committee Reports

1) Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting June 8th (Report No. 039-16)

Ms. Fulton provided a summary and context to the recommendations from the June 8, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee (FFC) meeting.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton seconded by Mr. Meyer, that the Board of Health to approve the audited Financial Statements for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, December 31, 2015 as appended to report No. 016-16FFC as recommended by the Finance and Facilities Committee. Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health:
1) approve a $25,930 drawdown from the Sick Leave Reserve Fund to fund the 2015 sick leave payments to eligible staff; and further,
2) receive the 2015 -2016 Reserve / Reserve Fund Overview (Appendix A) for information; and further,
3) That Report No. 017– 16FFC, “2015 Reserve / Reserve Fund Balances” be forwarded to the City of London and the County of Middlesex for information. As recommended by the Finance and Facilities Committee.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 018-16FFC re: “Q1 Financial Update Report & Factual Certificate” for information as recommended by the Finance and Facilities Committee.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Smith, that the Board of Health receive the June 8th Finance and Facilities Committee meeting MINUTES. Carried

Ms. Fulton noted a correction to the time of the next Finance and Facilities Committee meeting, which will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the MINUTES for the May 19, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved as amended. Carried

Delegation and Recommendation Reports

 7:15 - 7:25 p.m.

Ms. Shaya Dhinsa, Manager, Sexual Health, and Mr. Todd Coleman, Epidemiologist re: Item # 2 Persons Who Inject Drugs in Middlesex-London: An Update Report No. 040-16.

2) Persons Who Inject Drugs in Middlesex London: An Update (Report No. 040-16)

Mr. Todd Coleman, Epidemiologist and Ms. Shaya Dhinsa, Manager, Sexual Health introduced and provided context to this report, reviewing the current epidemiological investigation, stakeholder engagement and strategies currently in development to address this public health emergency in persons who inject drugs in Middlesex-London. Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan also provided context to this report and answered questions.

Discussion ensued about the following items:
• Current strategies in place to address the spread of disease in both persons who inject drugs and those who do not.
• The consultation process currently under way to identify a multidisciplinary approach and coordinated effort to develop a strategy to address HIV epidemic and unsafe injection drug practices in Middlesex-London. Some of the strategies discussed were street outreach model, supervised injection site, mapping of Hepatitis C/HIV cases, relevant resources and services, and identifying gaps in the community.

Mr. Brian Lester, Executive Director, Regional HIV/Aids Connection answered questions regarding the estimated number of injection drug users in Middlesex-London, factors that are impacting the ability to practice safe injection and the outreach, counselling and education efforts currently in place.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Fulton, that the Board of Health support in principle the allocation of resources within Middlesex-London Health Unit to address the emerging public health emergency in persons who inject drugs in Middlesex-London, with further details on strategy and resources to come to the Board of Health in September. Carried

3)  A Food Policy Council for Middlesex-London (Report No. 043-16)

Chair Helmer requested a brief presentation from Ms. Ellen Lakusiak, Public Health Dietitian to provide a summary of the Food Policy Council launch event and this report.

Mr. Marcel Meyer provided an overview of the history of the Food Policy Council, who has been involved and some of the next steps.

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Ms. Poole, that Mr. Meyer be nominated as the Board of Health representative on the Food Policy Council. Carried

Mr. Meyer agreed to let his name stand and encouraged others interested to apply to the Council. The online application process is available on the Health Unit’s website.

Dr. Mackie provided context to this report and outlined why the Board was requested to have a representative. Looking for someone to represent the perspective of the health unit, background in the area, understanding the values of the health unit, what the Middlesex-London Health Unit mandate is, not to commit program or resources.

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden seconded by Ms. Poole, that the Board of Health
1. Receive Report No. 043-16, A Food Policy Council for Middlesex- London and,
2. Appoint Mr. Meyer to sit on the Middlesex- London Food Policy Council.
Carried

Information Reports

Chair Helmer requested a motion to approve all information reports at once.

It was moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hunter, that the Board of Health approve all information items at once.
Carried

4) Summary Information Report for June 2016 (Report No. 041-16)

It was moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hunter, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 041-16 Summary Information Report - June for information. Carried
5) Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – June (Report No. 042-16)

It was moved by Mr. Smith seconded by Mr. Hunter, that the Board of Health receive Report No.042-16 re: Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – June for information. Carried

Correspondence

Chair Helmer made note of correspondence item j) the resolution submitted by the Health Unit to Advocate for a Comprehensive Province-Wide Healthy Eating Approach Integrating the Recommendations in the Senate’s Report on Obesity and the Heart and Stroke Foundation Sugar, Heart Disease and Stroke Position Statement, including Taxation of Sugar Sweetened Beverages was carried with a friendly amendment.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health receive correspondence items a) through j).
Carried

Dr. Mackie made note of Appendix A from the Summary Information Report, outlining some of the changes to components in to the Patients First Discussion Paper and advising that he will sit as Co-Chair for the 2016/2017 Executive Committee of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH ). This role will began in June 2016 and could lead to Chairing COMOH in the future.

Mr. Meyer provided additional comments on the Patients First Discussion Paper and a summary of the discussion on this topic at the recent Association of Local Public Health Agencies Annual General Meeting that he attended in Toronto.

Other Business

Verbal Update on the letter from Syrian Newcomers regarding the conduct of the Community Care Access Centre in the resettlement process.

Chair Helmer provided context to the request for a verbal update from staff, advising that a small number of Syrian Newcomers wrote a letter outlining some concerns with the services provided by the Community Care Access Centre during the resettlement process.

Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health provided an update on the Health Unit’s role in assisting with providing outbreak management and vaccinations to Syrian Newcomers, clarifying that the Health Unit was not identified in the letter of concern. Dr. Hovhannisyan advised Public Health Inspectors inspected all facilities that provided food and did not identify any significant infractions or risk to health. The Health Unit also worked with other stakeholders and healthcare providers to address health care needs of Newcomers, particularly on immunization and prevention of outbreaks.

Chair Helmer took a moment to acknowledge that it was Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health & Infectious Diseases last meeting; thanking him for his service and contributions to the organization.

Upcoming meetings
• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday July 7th @ 9:00 a.m.
• Next Governance Committee Meeting: Thursday July 21st @ 6:00 p.m.
• Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday July 21st @ 7:00 p.m.

Confidential

At 8:27 p.m. Chair Helmer invited a motion to move in camera to discuss an item regarding identifiable individuals and a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health.

At 8:27 p.m. it was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health move in camera to discuss an item regarding identifiable individuals and a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health.
Carried

At 8:27 p.m. all Health Unit staff, except Dr. Mackie, Dr. Hovhannisyan, Mr. Jordan Banninga, Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Mr. John Millson, Ms. Suzanne Vandervoort, Ms. Heather Lokko, and Ms. Elizabeth Milne left the meeting. Carried

At 9:21 p.m. it was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health rise and return to public session to adjourn the meeting. Carried

At 9:21 p.m. the Board of Health returned to public session.

Adjournment

At 9:22 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