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September 18, 2014 - Minutes

Members Present:

Mr. David Bolton
Ms. Denise Brown
Mr. Al Edmondson
Mr. Marcel Meyer (Chair)
Mr. Ian Peer
Ms. Viola Poletes Montgomery
Ms. Nancy Poole
Mr. Mark Studenny
Ms. Sandy White

Regrets:

Ms. Trish Fulton
Mr. Stephen Orser (Vice-Chair)

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. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Mr. Jordan Barringa, Manager, Strategic Projects
Ms. Diane Bewick, Director, Family Health Services & Chief Nursing Officer
Ms. Laura Di Cesare, Director, Human Resources and Corporate Strategy
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Kim Leacy, Registered Dietitian, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Heather Lokko, Acting Director Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services
Mr. John Millson, Director, Finance and Operations
Ms. Huma Rana, Volunteer
Ms. Julie Sloan, Volunteer
Ms. Linda Stobo Manager Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services
Ms. Trudy Sweetzir, Communications Assistant (streaming)
Ms. Maja Williams, Volunteer

Media Present:

None

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. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Peer that the AGENDA for the September 18, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Dr. Mackie introduced Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, the new Associate Medical Officer of Health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, to the Board of Health members.

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Ms. White that the public session MINUTES of the July 17, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. Studenny that the in camera session MINUTES of the July 17, 2014 Board of Health meeting be approved. Carried

Business Arising from the Minutes

None

Delegation and Recommendation Reports

Item #1 - Finance and Facilities Committee September 4, 2014 (Report 052-14)

Financial Policies Review (029-14FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health endorse the FFC Committee’s request for staff members to prepare a report for the October Finance and Facilities Committee meeting that deals with Policy 4-055 Gifts and Honorariums. Carried.

Janitorial Services – Contract Award (031-14FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. White that the Board of Health accept the Finance and Facilities Committee’s recommendation to award the following two year contracts for janitorial services to:

  1. GDI Integrated Facility Services – for leased premises located at 50 King Street and 399 Ridout Street, London Ontario for a total amount of $241,238.00, and;
  2. Bee Clean Building Maintenance – for leased premises located at the Kenwick Mall, 51 Front Street, Strathroy, Ontario for a total amount of $25,832.56.

Carried

Program Budget Marginal Analysis (PBMA) Criteria/Weights (033-14FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that the Board of Health endorse the revised weightings of the PBMA Criteria as proposed in this report. Carried

Middlesex-London Health Unit – March 31st Draft Financial Statements (034-14FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the Board of Health approve the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, March 31st, 2014 as appended to Report No. 034-14FFC. Carried

MOHLTC Reconciliation Report (035-14FFC)

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. Brown that the Board of Health approve the 2013 Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care Reconciliation Report as appended to Report No. 035-14FFC. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. White that the Board of Health receive Report No. 052-14 re Finance and Facilities Committee September 4, 2014, including Reports No. 030-14FFC, 032-14FFC, and 036-14FFC for information. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Studenny that the Board of Health receive the draft minutes of the September 4th Finance and Facilities Committee for information. Carried

Item #2 - Governance Committee Meeting September 18, 2014 (verbal report)

Mr. Mark Studenny, Governance Committee Chair, reviewed the material covered in the Governance Committee meeting that was held prior to the Board of Health meeting.

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Ms. White that Health Unit staff will develop a job description and expectations for Board of Health members that includes expectations, to increase awareness about the Board of Health and the Health Unit. The Governance Committee will review the document before it is sent to municipal decision makers. Carried

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Ms. Brown that:

  1. The Governance Committee receive Report No. 04-14GC re Board of Health Orientation and Training for discussion; and further
  2. The previous two day in-person orientation for new Board of Health members be reduced to a one day orientation augmented by other orientation and training elements as outlined in Appendix A of the Report.

Carried

It was moved by Mr. Studenny, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the Board of Health receive Report 05-14GC re Strategic Planning Process Update for information. Carried

Item #3 - 2014 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results and Implications for Government Public Policy (Report 053-14)

Ms. Kim Leacy, Registered Dietitian, assisted Board members with their understanding of this report. She explained that the Nutritious Food Basket Survey collects data about 67 basic food items; however, it assumes that people of the food skills necessary to prepare healthy meals using the items.

Three of the four volunteers who assisted with the collection of data for the 2014 survey, Ms. Huma Rana, Ms. Julie Sloan and Ms. Maja Williams, attended the meeting to show their support of the Nutritious Food Basket survey and the need for follow-up by the Province. A fourth volunteer, Ms. Julie Statler, could not attend the meeting.

Ms. White declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Ms. Poletes Montgomery that the Board of Health:

  1. Send a letter to the Premier of Ontario, the Right Honourable Kathleen Wynne, commending her for taking the initiative to update the provincial poverty plan and requesting that the province increase social assistance rates to reflect the rising cost of nutritious food and safe housing; and further
  2. Forward Report No. 053-14 re 2014 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results and Implications for Government Public Policy to the City of London, Middlesex County, and appropriate community agencies; and
  3. Request that the Mayors of London and Middlesex municipalities also send letters to the municipalities in Middlesex-London to write letters to the Premier of Ontario, commending her for taking the initiative to update the provincial poverty plan and requesting that the province increase social assistance rates to reflect the rising cost of nutritious food and safe housing.

Carried

In response to a question about asking grocery chains to sponsor the Harvest Bucks program, Ms. Leacy explained that the program is currently designed to support local producers; therefore, grocery chains are not part of the program. To reduce administration of the program, Farmers’ Markets that accept the Harvest Bucks reimburse their vendors for any redeemed Harvest Bucks. The Markets then seek reimbursement, on behalf of all of their vendors, from the Health Unit.

Ms. Heather Lokko, Acting Director Oral Health, Communicable Disease and Sexual Health Services, added that Family Health Services is piloting a program with local grocery stores in London and Strathroy to provide healthy food vouchers to at-risk pregnant women.

It was suggested that a process similar to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank which is a non-profit, charitable organization that collects grain and cash donations in efforts to end hunger in developing countries, could be considered at a local level. Staff will investigate more about this program.

In response to a question about the state of the poverty issue in this area, Dr. Mackie replied that the “working poor” segment of the population is growing. Poverty is in line with smoking for decreasing life expectancy.

Item #4 - Hungry for Action: Provincial Poverty Project (Report 054-14)

Ms. White expressed reservations about completing the survey given that she has inside information as a Social Worker.

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Ms. White that the Board of Health:

  1. Encourage all candidates in the municipal election to complete the Hungry for Action municipal candidate survey; and,
  2. Participate in the local poverty simulation event in November and encourage City and County councilors to participate.

Carried

Information Reports

It was moved by Mr. Peer, seconded by Mr. Bolton that the Board of Health receive the following reports for information:

  • Item #5 - Price WaterhouseCoopers (Report 055-14)
  • Item #6 - 2013 Year End Performance on Accountability Indicators (Report 056-14)
  • Item #7 - Summary Information Report for September (Report 057-14)
  • Item #8 - Medical Officer of Health Activity Report – September (Report 058-14)

Carried

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Edmondson, seconded by Ms. White that the correspondence be received for information. Carried

Other Business

Next Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting: Thursday, October 2, 2014 @ 9:00 a.m.

Next Board of Health Meeting: Thursday, October 16, 2014 @ 7:00 p.m.

Next Governance Committee Meeting: Thursday, January 15, 2015 6:00 p.m.

It was moved by Ms. Poole, seconded by Ms. Brown that the December Board of Health Meeting be changed to Thursday, December 18, 2014, because of a conflict with the Middlesex Room. Carried

Adjournment

At 8:05 p.m., it was moved by Ms. White, seconded by Mr. Edmondson that the meeting be adjourned. Carried


MARCEL MEYER
Chair

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE
Secretary-Treasurer

 

 
Date of creation: October 8, 2014
Last modified on: October 8, 2014