Minutes of Board of Health for Wednesday September 4, 2019

The Board of Health of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit met at 4:00 p.m. at the GUELPH Office.

Members in attendance were:  Mr. George Bridge (Chair), Mr. Allan Alls, Ms. Christine Billings, Mr. Guy Gardhouse, Ms. June Hofland, Mr. Ralph Manktelow, Mr. Lambert Otten and Mr. Chris White.

Member(s) with regrets:  Mr. Rodrigo Goller and Ms. Nancy MacDonald.   

Ex-officio member(s) in attendance:  Dr. Mercer, Medical Officer of Health & CEO. 

Staff members in attendance were:  Mr. Chris Beveridge, Ms. Rita Isley, Mr. David Kingma, Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum (Associate Medical Officer of Health), Mr. Kyle Wilson, Mr. Rob Cunnington, Ms. Amy Estill, Mr. Chuck Ferguson, Ms. Mary Anne Kozdras, Ms. Rosalyn LaRochelle, Ms. Jessica Morris, Ms. Karen Mulvey, Ms. Jennifer MacLeod, Ms. Marlene Jantzi-Bauman, Mr. Emerson Rajaram, Ms. Janice Walters, Ms. Anna Vanderlaan, Mr. Shawn Zentner, Mr. Charles Wright and Ms. Sylvia Muir (Recording Secretary).

Guests in attendance were:  NONE. 

1.0 Call to Order

  • G. Bridge, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
  • G. Bridge spoke to the Ontario Health Team proposal in Dufferin Hills – Governance Forum being held on Monday September 9, 2019.

2.0 Disclosure(s) of Pecuniary Interest

  • There are no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared at this time.

3.0 Approval of Minutes

  • MOTION: “To approve the Minutes of June 5, 2019, as presented.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: A. Alls
  • CARRIED

4.0 MOH Updates

  • Cannabis (Update)
    • Dr. Mercer spoke to the September 2019 Edition of Cannabis Facts entitled “Cannabis Use and Budding Brains: Three Reasons why Cannabis is a Concern for Young People” as follows: (1) Young people ae more likely to use cannabis; (2) Young people are more likely to experience harm from using cannabis; and (3) Young people may be more at risk for car crashes involving cannabis.
  • Rabies (Update)
    • To date, in 2019, four positive rabid bats were reported on June 20 (Guelph), July 19 (East Garafraxa), Aug 2 (Mount Forest), and Aug 7 (Guelph).
    • Three of the four bat incidents required post-exposure treatment. Media releases and social media messaging was distributed.
    • To date, in 2019, no positive rabid terrestrial wildlife reported (i.e raccoons, foxes, skunks).
    • 77 clients have received post exposure treatment as of Aug 22, 2019, compared to 48 clients from January-December 2018.
  • Upcoming Flu Season (Update)
    • Ministry has purchased more high-dose vaccine.  There is no flumist available this year due to a manufacturing issue. 
    • WDGPH to distribute the vaccine to high-risk populations first, with a goal to have everyone able to access by November.  Influenza clinics for high-risk clients and for the general public will be offered in each WDGPH office.
    • There is a manufacturing delay for IIV4-SD so we anticipate the public launch for influenza clinics will not be prior to November (however we will have some vaccine for high risk clients prior).
  • Smart Cities (Update)
    • On May 14 the City of Guelph and County of Wellington were awarded $10 million for their proposal to implement Canada’s first circular food economy.
    • Public Health is a key partner in this initiative, co-leading the Nutritious Foods Workstream (group dedicated to increasing access to affordable nutritious foods by 50% by 2025) and Data Utility Group (group overseeing the integrated data strategy).
    • Dr. Tenenbaum is Co-Chair of the Nutritious Foods Workstream, Dr. Kyle Wilson is Co-Chair of the Data Utility group and 2 staff members (Public Health Nutritionist & Health Promotion Specialist) are supporting this work.
    • Public health will be entering a funding agreement with the City and County, where we will oversee the funds connected to the Nutritious Foods Workstream (~$2 million).
    • Our main projects for this workstream include: (1) Assess the Guelph-Wellington food environment (collect and map baseline data to recognize food assets, gaps and opportunities); and (2) Create, implement and evaluate a Food Security and Health Action Plan (use community insights to develop evidence-based programs, policies and solutions).

5.0 Presentation(s)

  • NONE.

6.0 Business Arising

  • NONE.

7.0 Consent Agenda

  • BH.01.SEP0419.C13 – Healthy Families (2018) – Program/Service Information Report.
  • BH.01.SEP0419.C14 – Smoke-Free Ontario Act Enforcement 2019 Mid-Year Summary – Program/Service Information Report.
  • BH.01.SEP0419.C15 – Food Safety Program 2019 Mid-Year Summary (Jan-Jun 2019) – Program/Service Information Report.
  • BH.01.SEP0419.C16 – Safe Water Program 2019 Mid-Year Summary (Jan-Jun 2019) – Program/Service Information Report.
  • BH.01.SEP0419.C17 – Infectious and Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Programs 2019 Mid-Year Summary (Jan-Jun 2019) – Program/Service Information Report.
  • BH.01.SEP0419.C18 – Healthy Environments Program 2019 Mid-Year Summary (Jan-Jun 2019) – Program/Service Information Report.
  • MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive the Consent Agenda item(s), which has been given due consideration, for information.”
  • Moved: C. Billings, Seconded: G. Gardhouse
  • CARRIED

8.0 BOH Report(s)

BH.01.SEP0419.R16 – Dental Clinic Update

  • Dr. Mercer introduced Report BH.01.SEP0419.R16 and Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum spoke to the content.   
  • MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.SEP0419.R16 – Dental Clinic Update, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: J. Hofland, Seconded: C. White
  • CARRIED

BH.01.SEP0419.R17 – State of the Evidence on Vaping

  • Dr. Mercer introduced Report BH.01.SEP0419.R17 and Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum spoke to the content.
  • MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.SEP0419.R17 – State of the Evidence on Vaping, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: J. Hofland, Seconded: G. Gardhouse, CARRIED

BH.01.SEP0419.R18 – Poverty: An Influential Social Determinant of Health

  • Dr. Mercer introduced Report BH.01.SEP0419.R18 and J. MacLeod spoke to the content.  A member of the BOH requested that the Report be shared with our Community Partners.
  • MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.SEP0419.R18 – Poverty: An Influenza Social Determinant of Health, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: J. Hofland, Seconded: C. White
  • CARRIED

9.0 Committee (Verbal) Report(s)

Audit Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Executive Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Human Resources Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Finance + Facilities Committee Report:

C. White, Chair, provided an update advising that the Finance + Facilities Committee met on Sep 4/19 to review/discuss the following matter(s):

  • Correspondence: Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Letter to WDGPH BOH Chair re 2019 Ministry of Health Funding Approval – August 20, 2019
    • WDGPH received its 2019 Funding Letter on August 20, 2019.
    • Schedule “A” (Grants and Budgets) of the Funding Letter – WDGPH’s base budget remained the same as in 2018 with the exception of additional annual funding in the amount of $869,100 for the new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
  • BH.04.SEP0419.R05 – 2019 First Quarter Financials
    • Variance of $193,111 as at March 31, 2019 related to the following: Salary & Benefits and Information & IT Equipment.
  • BH.04.SEP0419.R06 – 2019 Second Quarter Financials
    • Variance of $215,845 as at June 30, 2019 related to the following: Salary & Benefits; Professional & Purchased Services; Building Occupancy; and Information & IT Equipment.
    • Variance to be fully spent by the third quarter.
  • BH.04.SEP0419.R07 – Compliance with Board of Health Procedure: Stewardship of Management Operations – Financial Policies and Procedures
    • This Report speaks to the BOH’s responsibility to meet the governance oversight included in the Accountability Framework Section of the Ontario Public Health Standards.
    • WDGPH has a system in place to provide the required evidence and continuously works towards updating and enhancing the processes to provide the evidence required by the province.  An example is that WDGPH is currently preparing a supplier incident(s) report to measure the services being provided. 

Motion(s) passed at the Sep 4/19 BOH Meeting:

BH.04.SEP0419.R05 – 2019 First Quarter Financials          

  • (a) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Finance + Facilities Committee and receives BH.04.SEP0419.R05 – 2019 First Quarter Financials, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: A. Alls
  • CARRIED

BH.04.SEP0419.R06 – 2019 Second Quarter Financials

  • (a) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Finance + Facilities Committee and receives BH.04.SEP0419.R06 – 2019 Second Quarter Financials, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: C. Billings
  • CARRIED

BH.04.SEP0419.R07 – Compliance with Board of Health Procedure: Stewardship of Management Operations – Financial Policies and Procedures

  • (a) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Finance + Facilities Committee and receives BH.04.SEP0419.R07 – Compliance with Board of Health Procedure: Stewardship of Management Operations – Financial Policies and Procedures, as presented, for information.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: G. Gardhouse
  • CARRIED

10.0 Correspondence

  • Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Letter to WDGPH Board of Health Chair, Mr. George Bridge re Additional Base Funding for New Dental Program for Low Income Seniors for 2019-2020.
  • Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Letter to WDGPH Board of Health Chair, Mr. George Bridge re 2019 Ministry of Health Funding Approval.
  • Trish Fulton, Chair, Board of Health and Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health/CEO, Middlesex-London Health Unit Letter/Motion re Return on Investment – Early Childhood Development.
  • Kathryn Wilson, Chair, Board of Health, Peterborough Public Health Letter re Support for Children Count Task Force Recommendations.
    • MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive the above-noted Correspondence, as presented, for information.”
    • Moved: C. Billings, Seconded: C. White, CARRIED

11.0 CLOSED SESSION

  • To approve the June 5, 2019 Closed Session BOH Minutes.
  • MOH Update(s) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees].
  • System Transformation: An External Update [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees].

(4:56)

  • MOTION: “To move into Closed Session to approve Closed Session BOH Minutes of June 5, 2019; to obtain/discuss MOH Update(s) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees] and System Transformation: An External Update [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees].
  • Moved: G. Gardhouse, Seconded: A. Alls
  • CARRIED

CLOSED SESSION

Members in attendance were:  Mr. George Bridge (Chair), Allan Alls, Ms. Christine Billings, Mr. Guy Gardhouse, Ms. June Hofland, Mr. Ralph Manktelow, Mr. Lambert Otten and Mr. Chris White.

Member(s) with regrets were:  Mr. Rodrigo Goller and Ms. Nancy MacDonald.     

Ex-officio member(s) in attendance were: Dr. Mercer, Medical Officer of Health & CEO.

Staff member(s) in attendance were:  Ms. Sylvia Muir (Recording Secretary)

Guest(s) in attendance were:  Acumen Consulting Group.

CLOSED SESSION MINUTES TO BE PROVIDED UNDER SEPARATE COVER.

(6:36) Returned to Open Session.

  • MOTION: “To Ratify the Closed Session Decisions of the September 4, 2019 Board of Health meeting.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: A. Alls
  • CARRIED

Motion(s) brought forward from Closed Session:

  • MOTION: “That the WDGPH Board of Health enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Acumen Consulting Group for provision of strategic advice to the WDGPH Board of Health to achieve provincial objectives during this time of broader Public Health system change.”
  • Moved: C. White, Seconded: A. Alls
  • CARRIED

12.0 Adjournment

  • The meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
  • MOTION:  “To adjourn the meeting.”
  • Moved: C. Billings, Seconded: J. Hofland
  • CARRIED
File Attachments 
PDF icon Minutes of September 4, 2019 BOH Meeting (NO Closed Session) (PDF, 9 pages, 153 KB)