March 20, 2014 - Minutes

Members Present:

Mr. David Bolton
Ms. Denise Brown
Ms. Trish Fulton
Mr. Marcel Meyer (Chair)
Mr. Stephen Orser (Vice-Chair)
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery
Ms. Nancy Poole
Mr. Mark Studenny
Ms. Sandy White

Regrets:

Mr. Al Edmondson

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health & CEO (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Sherri Sanders, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health (Recorder)
Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Public Health Nurse
Ms. Laura DiCesare, Director, Human Resources and Corporate Strategy
Ms. Kathy Dowsett, Manager, Family Health Services
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Mr. Ross Graham, Manager, Strategic Projects
Mr. Brian Lester, Executive Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC)
Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations
Ms. Gayle Riedl, Human Resources Officer
Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Environmental Health & Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Trudy Sweetzir, Communications Assistant (Streaming)
Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services

Media Outlets:

Mr. Craig Gilbert – London Community News

Mr. Marcel Meyer, Chair of the Board of Health, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) of Interest

Chair Meyer inquired if there were any disclosures of conflict of interest to be declared. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

 It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Orser that the AGENDA for the March 20, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved with the addition of a confidential report. Carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that the MINUTES of the February 26, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Delegation Reports

1. Governance Committee Report

Mr. Studenny, newly elected Chair of the Governance Committee, gave a verbal report summarizing the first meeting of the Governance Committee that took place preceding this Board of Health meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that members of the Board of Health complete the survey, attached as Appendix A to Report 01-14CG, in March 2014 for review by the Governance Committee in order to propose recommendations at a future meeting to improve Board effectiveness and engagement. Carried

Future Governance Committee meetings have been set for Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. Both of these meetings precede the Board meetings for that month.

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the verbal report re the March 20, 2014 Governance Committee meeting be received for information. Carried

Delegation and Recommendation Reports

3. Needle/Syringe Disposal and Recovery (Report 022-14)

Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Public Health Nurse, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report.

It was moved by Mr. Orser, seconded by Ms. White:

1. That all needles/syringes that are handed out by social agencies and/or sold by pharmacies in the city of London, require a stamp on them for a 25 cent return for safe disposal as well as colour coding, to identify where the needles/syringes are being distributed or sold from; and further
2. That the Middlesex London Health Board explore funding options for safe return options; and further
3. Establish a program whereby small, portable, carry-ready containers could be distributed for free, to not only the needle users, but the activists and those interested in removing this problem from our city.

It was moved by Mr. Orser, seconded by Ms. Fulton that the above motion be tabled. Carried

The Board of Health directed staff to take the recommendation of Mr. Brian Lester, Executive Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), who suggested the Health Unit and its partnering agencies should collect more information about additional resources and where those resources would be best utilised before proceeding. Health Unit staff will include this information in a future report to the Board of Health about Harm Reduction Strategies.

Dr. Warshawsky reported that needle exchange services are now available at the Health Unit’s office in Strathroy on its regular clinic days.

Discussion ensued about the needle exchange program and needle/syringe disposal and recovery. Board members learned that the Counterpoint Needle Exchange program in London, Ontario, sets a gold standard in harm reduction programs.

It was moved by Ms. Brown, seconded by Ms. Poole:

1. That Report No. 022-14 re Needle/Syringe Disposal and Recovery be received for information, and
2. That staff provide updates on the topic every 6 months until the issue improves or is resolved.

Carried

2. Skin Cancer Prevention Act Regulations and Required Resources (Report 020-14)

It was moved by Ms. Poletes Montgomery, seconded by Ms. Brown:

1. That the Board of Health endorse Report No. 020-14 re: “Skin Cancer Prevention Act Regulations and Required Resources”; and,
2. That The Board of Health send a letter, attached as Appendix B, to the Right Honourable Premier Kathleen Wynne and to the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care to commend the Ontario Government for the Skin Cancer Prevention Act, and to advocate for adequate funding for local public health from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to support enforcement and promotion activities.

Carried

Information Reports

4. Overview of Withdrawal Management (Report 023-14)

It was moved by Ms. Brown, seconded by Mr. Orser that Report No. 023-14 re Overview of Withdrawal Management be received for information. Carried

5. Local Representation at All Our Sisters National Homelessness Conference (Report 021-14)

Dr. Mackie emphasized the importance of this Conference to Middlesex-London area. Dr. Mackie informed the Board that the Health Unit would be sponsoring local women with experience of homelessness to attend the conference, and encouraged Board members to register and attend if possible. Ms. Sanders will email more information to Board members following the meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Orser that Report No. 021-14 re Local Representation at National Homelessness Conference be received for information. Carried

6. Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – March (Report 024-14)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Studenny that Report No. 024-14 re Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – March be received for information. Carried

7. Verbal Report - Human Resources re Associate Medical Officer of Health Position

To cover the vacancy left by Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Dr. Mackie discussed the possibility of separating the position into two positions on an interim basis: a full-time Acting Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services; and a separate medical consultant role. This model will also be examined for use longer term, although there are cost implications.

On behalf of the Board of Health, Chair Meyer presented Dr. Warshawsky with a gift recognizing her 19 years of work in public health in Middlesex-London and wished her best wishes on her new position with Public Health Ontario.

At 9:00 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Ms. White that the Board of Health take a short recess. Carried

Confidential

At 9:05 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Orser, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health move in camera to discuss a matter concerning litigation or potential litigation affecting the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Carried

At 9:10 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Mr. Peer by that the Board of Health return to a public forum and report that matters were discussed concerning litigation or potential litigation affecting the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Carried

Correspondence

Chair Meyer added one piece of correspondence:

Date: 2014 March 19 (Received 2014 March 20))
Topic: Reappointment of Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery to the Board of Health for an additional two year term - March 1, 2014 to February 29, 2016
From: The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
To: Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health

Other Business

Next scheduled Board of Health Meeting: Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Next scheduled Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 9:00 a.m.

Adjournment

At 9:15 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded Ms. Fulton that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

MARCEL MEYER
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer