June 6, 2018 - Minutes of Board Meeting (No Closed Session)

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: Ms. Nancy Sullivan (Chair), Ms. Margaret Abbink, Mr. William Baxter, Ms. Christine Billings, Mr. George Bridge, Mr. Guy Gardhouse, Mr. Cam Guthrie, Ms. June Hofland, Mr. Dennis Lever, Ms. Nancy MacDonald, Mr. Ken McGhee, Mr. Lambert Otten, Mr. Allen Taylor and Mr. Chris White.

Member(s) with regrets: NONE.

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

Staff members in attendance were: Mr. Chris Beveridge, Ms. Liz Bowden, Ms. Andrea Roberts, Ms. Rita Isley, Mr. Kyle Wilson, Mr. Tom Craig, Mr. David George, Ms. Tricia Hardy, Ms. Marlene Jantzi-Bauman, Mr. Jessica Morris, Ms. Rosalyn LaRochelle, Ms. Shanna O’Dwyer, Ms. Janice Walters, Mr. Shawn Zentner, Ms. Jill Davies and Ms. Sylvia Muir (Recording Secretary).

Guests in attendance were: Mr. Alex Rand, Delegation re WiFi Concerns.

1.0 Call to Order

A. Taylor, on behalf of N. Sullivan, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Status of BOH Vacancies

  • The WDGPH Board of Health (BOH) has one remaining provincial appointment vacancy (representing the City of Guelph).

2.0 Disclosure(s) of Pecuniary Interest

There are no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared at this time

3.0 Delegation

WiFi Concerns in Schools within Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

  • Alex Rand was running late. Matter to take place upon his arrival.

4.0 Approval of Minutes

MOTION: “To approve the Minutes of May 2, 2018, as presented.”

Moved: G. Bridge

Seconded: J. Hofland

CARRIED

5.0 MOH Updates

Hepatitis C Screening

  • Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus for which there is no vaccine.
  • In a recent Canadian Medical Association Journal, people born between 1945-1975 are being advised to be tested.

(4:03) N. Sullivan + C. White arrived.

  • This Canadian recommendation is now in alignment with the United States regarding the screening of Hepatitis C.
  • Hepatitis C is a reportable disease. If a patient gets a positive result, Public Health will get notified.

WDGPH Staff Recognition

  • Dr. Mercer extended congratulations to E. Rajaram, Infrastructure Architect, for obtaining his Master of Business Administration (MBA).

West Nile Virus (WNV) Update

  • S. Zentner, Manager, Health Protection provided an update:
  • WDGPH’s municipal partners were thanked for providing WDGPH with the required approval letters to allow the Canadian Centre for Mosquito Management to obtain a licence to larvicide catch-basins in our jurisdiction.
  • Larviciding is anticipated to start this week. The effect of the larviciding can be seen in the rapid decrease of the populations of Culex mosquitoes that transmit WNV. The percentage of Culex species, based on adult trapping, has decreased from 30% of the mosquitoes trapped in 2012 to just 1.64% last year. WDGPH has received a number of complaints about mosquito populations this spring.

Well Water Testing

  • WDGPH expressed thanks to its municipal partners for supporting the private well water survey. Each municipality has established water sample pick-up sites.
  • 869 water samples were submitted by residents in May 2018 compared to 740 in May of 2017, representing a 17% increase.
  • Over 250 residents have responded to the survey. The early survey results indicate that ⅔ of residents sample less than once annually, or not at all. 22% of respondents indicated that it was inconvenient to test and 33% said they forgot. WDGPH staff is working on making sampling more convenient and intend to establish a notification system similar to the City of Guelph weekly notification for waste pick-up.

Rabies

  • A skunk in the Elora area has tested positive with rabies.
  • There was no exposure to humans.
  • Bait has been dropped in the area by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR).

6.0 Presentation(s)

  • NONE.

7.0 Business Arising

By-Law No. 1

N. Sullivan presented By-Law No. 1 for introduction and first and second readings of the 2018 By-Law No. 1 of the Board of Health for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit:

  • BY-LAW NUMBER 1
    • By-law being the general by-law of the Board of Health for the Wellington- Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit. MOTION: “That leave be given to introduce and read a first and second time By-law No. 1 inclusive, as presented.”
    • MOTION: “That leave be given to introduce and read a first and second time By-law No. 1 inclusive, as presented.”
    • Moved: N. Sullivan
    • Seconded: C. White

  • N. Sullivan and Dr. Mercer presented the proposed changes to By-Law No. 1 and the BOH provided several further suggestions. Discussion took place and WDGPH Staff were directed to make further changes and to bring back the revised By-Law No. 1 to the Board of Health meeting of September 5, 2018 for consideration.

    • MOTION: “That By-law No. 1 be referred back to WDGPH Staff for finalization and to bring back the amended By-Law No. 1 to the September 5, 2018 Board of Health meeting for consideration.”
    • Moved: J. Hofland
    • Seconded: D. Lever
    • CARRIED

3.0 Delegation

(4:41) A. Rand arrived, addressed the BOH and presented his PP Presentation

WiFi Concerns in Schools within Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

  • A. Rand is a resident of Guelph with a background in the defence industry in the US and Canada. It is his opinion that Health Canada has never looked at any biology components (radiation) and that WiFi is actually microwave radiation. He believes that there is no safe level of microwave radiation (WiFi) for children and advised that many countries have identified issues with WiFi and are removing it from their schools.

(4:53) A. Rand was thanked and left the meeting.

Discussion took place around the delegations presentation.

MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive the delegations verbal report/PowerPoint Presentation on WiFi Concerns in Schools within Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: C. Guthrie
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

8.0 Consent Agenda

  • NONE.

9.0 BOH Report(s)

BH.01.JUN0618.R16 – IMS Mass Influenza Immunization Response

Dr. Mercer reviewed the contents of Report BH.01.JUN0618.R16.

MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.JUN0618.R16 – IMS Mass Influenza Immunization Response, as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: K. McGhee
  • Seconded: J. Hofland
  • CARRIED

BH.01.JUN0618.R17 – Growing Great Kids System of Care: Access Point Transition

Dr. Mercer reviewed the contents of Report BH.01.JUN0618.R17.

(5:09) C. Guthrie left meeting.

MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.JUN0618.R17 – Growing Great Kids System of Care: Access Point Transition, as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: J. Hofland
  • Seconded: C. Billings
  • CARRIED

BH.01.JUN0618.R18 – Community Health Van

Dr. Mercer reviewed the contents of Report BH.01.JUN0618.R18.

MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive BOH Report BH.01.JUN0618.R18 – Community Health Van, as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: G. Bridge
  • Seconded: G. Gardhouse
  • CARRIED

10.0 Committee (Verbal) Report(s)

Audit Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Executive Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Finance + Facilities Committee Report:

  • NONE.

Human Resources Committee Report:

  • NONE. See Closed Session.

11.0 Correspondence

  • Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Letter of May 7, 2018 re WDGPH Additional Base Funding for 2018-19.

MOTION: (a) “That the Board of Health receive the above-noted Correspondence, as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: J. Hofland
  • Seconded: C. White
  • CARRIED

12.0 CLOSED SESSION

  • To approve the May 2, 2018 Closed Session BOH Minutes.
  • Closed Session Committee (Verbal) Report: Human Resources Committee Meeting – May 23/18:
    • BH.05.MAY2318.R03 – Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees] + [labour relations or employee negotiations] .
  • MOH Update(s) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees].

(5:25) MOTION: “To move into Closed Session to approve Closed Session BOH Minutes of May 2, 2018; to review/discuss Closed Session Human Resources Committee Report BH.05.MAY2318.R03 – Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees] + [labour relations or employee negotiations]; and to obtain/discuss MOH Update(s) [personal matters about an identifiable individual, including BOH employees].”

  • Moved: C. White
  • Seconded: J. Hofland
  • CARRIED

CLOSED SESSION

Members in attendance were: Ms. Nancy Sullivan (Chair), Ms. Margaret Abbink, Mr. William Baxter, Ms. Christine Billings, Mr. George Bridge, Mr. Guy Gardhouse, Ms. June Hofland, Mr. Dennis Lever, Ms. Nancy MacDonald, Mr. Ken McGhee, Mr. Lambert Otten, Mr. Allen Taylor and Mr. Chris White.

Member(s) with regrets were: Mr. Cam Guthrie.

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

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

Guest(s) in attendance were: NONE.

CLOSED SESSION MINUTES TO BE PROVIDED UNDER SEPARATE COVER.

 

 

(5:56) Returned to Open Session.

MOTION: “To Ratify the Closed Session Decisions of the June 6, 2018 Board of Health meeting.”

  • Moved: C. White
  • Seconded: G. Gardhouse
  • CARRIED

Motions brought forward from Closed Session:

(a) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee and approves the creation of an Associate Medical Officer of Health position.”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

(b) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee and approves the Associate Medical Officer of Health Job Description as provided in Appendix “A” to Closed Session Human Resources Committee Report BH.05.MAY2318.R03 – Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH).”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

(c) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee to proceed with the recruitment and selection of an Associate Medical Officer of Health position.”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

(d) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee to approve Board of Health members: A. Taylor, L. Otten and N. MacDonald to be involved in the recruitment and selection process of the Associate Medical Officer of Health position along with the Medical Officer of Health and the Interim Director of Administrative Services.”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

(e) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee that the Associate Medical Officer of Health Performance Appraisal be completed by the Medical Officer of Health, as with other direct reports – Option 2, as outlined in Closed Session Human Resources Committee Report BH.05.MAY2318.R03 – Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH).”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

(f) MOTION: “That the Board of Health accepts the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee and receives Closed Session Human Resources Committee Report BH.05.MAY2318.R03 – Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH), as presented, for information.”

  • Moved: G. Gardhouse
  • Seconded: A. Taylor
  • CARRIED

The BOH thanked W. Baxter for his commitment on the BOH and extended its best wishes on his retirement from the BOH. This is W. Baxter’s last BOH meeting.

13.0 Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

MOTION: “To adjourn the meeting.”

  • Moved: M. Abbink
  • Seconded: K. McGhee
  • CARRIED
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PDF icon Minutes of June 6, 2018 BOH Meeting (No Closed Session) (PDF, 11 Pages, 271 KB)