November 17, 2016 - Board of Health Meeting Minutes

Members Present:

Ms. Maureen Cassidy
Ms. Patricia Fulton
Mr. Jesse Helmer (Chair)
Mr. Trevor Hunter
Mr. Marcel Meyer
Mr. Ian Peer
Mr. Kurtis Smith
Ms. Joanne Vanderheyden (Vice-Chair)

Regrets: Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health & CEO
Ms. Elizabeth Milne, Executive Assistant to the Board of Health & Communications (Recorder)
Mr. Jordan Banninga, Manager, Strategic Projects
Ms. Natalie Bolichowski, Dietetic Intern, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer
Ms. Megan Bornemisa, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer, Nursing Student
Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention
Ms. Shaya Dhinsa, Manager, Sexual Health
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Corporate Services
Ms. Kailin Huang, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Megan Firth, Registered Dietitian, Student
Ms. Madisyn Fisher, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Enza Ferrara, Nutritious Food Basket Volunteer
Ms. Donna Kosmack, Southwest Tobacco Control Area Network Manager
Ms. Heather Lokko, Manager, Healthy Start
Ms. Kim Loupos, Dietitian, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control
Mr. John Millson, Associate Director, Finance
Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases
Mr. Alex Tyml, Online Communications Coordinator
Ms. Suzanne Vandervoort, Director, Healthy Living
Ms. Emily Vankesteren, Public Health Nurse, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention
Ms. Carrie Warring, Public Health Inspector, Food Safety & Healthy Environments

Chair Helmer called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Disclosures of Conflict(s) Of Interest

Chair Helmer inquired if there were any disclosures of pecuniary interest. None were declared.

Chair Helmer congratulated Mr. Peer on his reappointment to the Board of Health for another three years and acknowledged a new Provincial Appointment to the Board, Ms. Tino Kasi. Ms. Kasi will attend the December 8 Board of Health meeting as she had a previous conflict which was scheduled prior to her appointment to the Board of Health.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden seconded by Mr. Smith that the AGENDA for the November 17, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Meyer, that the MINUTES for the October 27, 2016 Board of Health meeting be approved, as amended. Carried

Committee Reports

1) Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting November 3, 2016 (Report No. 061-16)

Ms. Fulton provided a summary of the reports from the November 3, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee (FFC) meeting.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Hunter that the Board of Health receive the November 3, 2016 Finance and Facilities Committee draft minutes. Carried

Ms. Vanderheyden noted her abstention from the vote since she declared a conflict of interest on this item at the Finance and Facilities Committee meeting.

Proposed Resource Reallocation for the 2017 Budget (Report No. 041-16FFC)

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Hunter that the Board of Health receive Report No. 041-16FFC re: Proposed Resource Reallocation for the 2017 Budget for information as recommended by the Finance and Facilities Committee.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health request additional funding from the Province and the Local Health Integration Network to support additional resources and funding for HIV Prevention, Outreach and Control. Carried

Third Quarter Variance Report (Report No. 042-16FFC)
It was moved by Ms. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health to receive Report No. 042-16FFC re: “Q3 Financial Update & Factual Certificate” and appendices for information, as recommended by the Finance and Facilities Committee. Carried

2) Governance Committee – November 17, 2016 (Verbal Update)

It was moved by Mr. Hunter, seconded by Mr. Smith that the Board of Health receive the July 21, 2016 Governance Committee meeting minutes, as amended. Carried

2015 Year-end Performance on Accountability Indicators (Report No. 017-16GC)

Mr. Hunter provided an update on indicator 1.5, clarifying that there was a data issue and the item was actually 100% compliant.

It was moved by Mr. Hunter, seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that the Board of Health receive Report No. 017-16GC re 2015 Public Health Performance Indicators Year-End Results for information. Carried

Board of Health Governance By-law and Policy Review (Report No. 018-16GC)

It was moved by Mr. Hunter, seconded by Mr. Smith that the Board of Health:
1) Receive report No. 018-16GC for information;
2) Forward the applicable policies for review by the Finance and Facilities Committee;
3) Receive the draft bylaws for information.
4) Approve the scheduling of an additional Governance Committee meeting on December 8, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. to review the drafted policies outlined in Appendix B; and
5) Approve the plan for the development of policies as outlined in Appendix C.
Carried

Dr. Mackie clarified the timing and process for bylaw proceedings at both the standing committee and Board of Health level. The three readings of the proposed draft bylaws for consideration can occur on the same day. Dr. Mackie advised that any additional input on these items should be brought forward by December 8, 2016.

Recommendation Reports

3) Opioid Addiction and Overdose (Report No. 062-16)

Ms. Shaya Dhinsa, Manager, Sexual Health provided context to this report and answered questions.

Discussion ensued about the following items:
• The distribution and availability of Naloxone in Middlesex-London, including availability of Naloxone kits at additional locations other than the health unit.
• The impact that harm reduction kits have had on overdose deaths both locally and provincially and the Province of Ontario’s recently announced strategy to address opioid addiction.
• The intervention activities that will assist in addressing opioid overdose and addiction, and the statistics related to opioid prescription use in both Middlesex-London and Ontario which are 24,000 and 669,000 respectfully.

It was moved by Ms. Cassidy seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health:
1) Endorse Report No. 062-16 re: “Opioid Addiction and Overdose” and
2) Recommend to The College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) that when prescribing opiates, patients should also be prescribed and counselled on use of naloxone to help prevent potentially fatal complications associated with opioid overdose.
Carried

4) 2016 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results and Implications for Government Public Policy (Report No. 063-16)

Ms. Linda Stobo, Manager, Chronic Disease and Tobacco Control and Ms. Kim Leacy, Public Health Dietitian provided context to this report and answered questions.

Discussion ensued about the following items:
• The recommendations and next steps in place to advance the policy and direction outlined in this report.
• The timing of the survey, the variables that impact food prices from year to year and the consideration of comparing prices through a multi-year plot going forward.

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health:
1. Write to the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Minister responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy and also direct staff to prepare a written submission to the Ontario Government’s Basic Income Pilot Consultation recognizing the Government’s commitment to a basic income pilot and urging that it be funded at a sufficient level to ensure adequate benefits and strong study design.
2. Write to the Minister of Community and Social Services and local MPP’s in support of Bill 6, Ministry of Community Social Services Amendment Act (Social Assistance Research Commission).
3. Write to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care supporting the inclusion of the Nutritious Food Basket standard in the modernized Ontario Public Health Standards with updates to the Nutritious Food Basket Guidance Document based on input from public health staff.
4. Forward Report No. 063-16 re “2016 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results and Implications for Government Public Policy” to Ontario Boards of Health, the City of London, Middlesex County & appropriate community agencies.
Carried

Information Reports

5) Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Investigation (Report No. 064-16)
It was moved by Mr. Meyer seconded by Ms. Cassidy that the Board of Health receive Report No. 064-16 re “Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Investigation” for information. Carried

Dr. Mackie noted the advantage of the Health Unit’s recent reorganization in facilitating the collaboration of the Food Safety and Infectious Disease Control teams to assist with the successful investigation of this outbreak.

6) 2015-2016 Influenza Season in Middlesex-London – Final Report (Report No. 065-16)
It was moved by Ms. Cassidy seconded by Mr. Peer, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 065-16 re 2015-2016 Influenza Season in Middlesex-London– Final Report for information. Carried

7) A Comprehensive Nutrition Strategy for Middlesex-London (Report No. 066-16)
Ms. Linda Stobo and Ms. Kim Leacy provided context to this report and answered questions.

Discussion ensued about the next steps in moving the nutrition strategy forward, harvest bucks, community food programs and enhancements that have been made to the program, including pairing the program with food skills classes.

It was moved by Ms. Fulton seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden, that the Board of Health received Report No. 066-16 re: “A Comprehensive Nutrition Strategy for Middlesex-London” for information. Carried

8) Summary Information Report: November (Report No. 067-16)
Ms. Kim Leacy provided context to the summary report on Harvest Bucks and answered questions about the redemption rate of Harvest Bucks, which staff see increasing each year (83% redemption rate in 2015) by evaluating and reducing barriers to the program each year.

Ms. Rhonda Brittan, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention and Ms. Emily Van Kesteren, Public Health Nurse, answered questions and provided context to the summary information report on Improving Safe and Active School Travel. This included a discussion on bringing resources and leveraging support from schools that do not currently have an active and safe routes to school champion or working committee. Ms. Van Kesteren advised that the report will be distributed to community partners, the Active and Safe Routes to School Partnership and with Provincial groups who hold a vested interest in the topics.

It was moved by Ms. Cassidy, seconded by Mr. Meyer, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 067-16 re: Summary Information Report for November 2016 for information. Carried

9) Medical Officer of Health Activity Report: November (Report No. 068-16)
Chair Helmer flagged Dr. Mackie’s attendance at the Banff Forum XV in Montebello, Quebec and advised that the Middlesex-London Health Unit was well represented by Dr. Mackie’s attendance where he highlighted work done at the health unit and how it ties in with national and international healthy policy priorities.

It was moved by Mr. Peer seconded by Mr. Hunter that the Board of Health receive Report No. 068-16 re: Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – November for information. Carried

Other Business

Next meetings:
• Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday December 1, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
• Next Governance Committee Meeting: December 8, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
• Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday December 8, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

Correspondence

It was moved by Ms. Vanderheyden, seconded by Mr. Meyer that the Board of Health receive items a) through l) and n).Carried

It was moved by Mr. Meyer, seconded by Ms. Cassidy that the Board of Health endorse correspondence item m) Release of Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada. Carried

Confidential

 At 8:05 p.m., Chair Helmer invited a motion to move in camera to discuss matters regarding a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health and consider confidential minutes from its October 27 Board of Health and November 3 Finance and Facilities Committee meetings.

At 8:05 p.m. it was moved by Mr. Smith seconded by Mr. Peer that the Board of Health move in camera to discuss matters regarding a proposed or pending acquisition of land by the Middlesex-London Board of Health and consider confidential minutes from its October 27 Board of Health and November 3 Finance and Facilities Committee meetings. Carried

At 8:05 p.m. all visitors and Health Unit staff, except Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Dr. Hovhannisyan, Mr. Jordan Banninga, Ms. Suzanne Vandervoort, Ms. Heather Lokko, Mr. John Millson, Mr. Stephen Turner and Ms. Elizabeth Milne left the meeting.

At 8:15 p.m. it was moved by Ms. Cassidy seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that the Board of Health rise and return to public session. Carried

At 8:15 p.m. the Board of Health returned to public session.

Adjournment

At 8:15 p.m., it was moved by Mr. Meyer seconded by Ms. Vanderheyden that the meeting be adjourned. Carried

JESSE HELMER
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer