January 2020 Board Meeting - Minutes

Meeting Document Type
Minutes

Board Members Present:

Gary McNamara, Joe Bachetti, Rino Bortolin, Fabio Costante, Dr. Debbie Kane, Gary Kaschak, Judy Lund, John Scott, Ed Sleiman, Larry Snively 

Board Member Regrets:

Tracey Bailey

Administration Present:

Theresa Marentette, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Lorie Gregg, Nicole Dupuis, Kristy McBeth, Dan Sibley, Lee Anne Damphouse 

QUORUM:  Confirmed

  1. Call to Order
    Board Chair, Gary McNamara, called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
  2. Agenda Approval
    Moved by: Ed Sleiman
    Seconded by: Gary Kaschak
    That the agenda be approved.
    CARRIED
  3. Announcement of Conflicts of Interest – None
  4. Approval of Minutes
    1. Regular Board Meeting: December 19, 2019
      Moved by: Judy Lund
      Seconded by: Rino Bortolin
      That the minutes be approved.
      CARRIED
  5. Consent Agenda
    1. INFORMATION REPORTS
      The following information reports were presented to the Board.
      1. Breastfeeding in Windsor Essex (N. Dupuis)
        Brought to the Board for information.
      2. Radon Gas Initiatives in Windsor Essex County (K. McBeth)
        Brought to the Board for information.
        F. Costante asked if the WECHU will be running another campaign to distribute Radon kits or if any audits of homes will be conducted in the future since, according to studies, our region is twice the provincial average for acceptable Radon levels. T. Marentette advised that the WECHU’s 3 year campaign on Radon is complete and our campaigns are now focused on educating the community. Radon Kits are readily available at local hardware stores and are approximately $40 each.
        J. Lund asked if the WECHU can encourage appropriate levels of government to create programs to test for Radon levels and offer incentives to home owners to make upgrades/repairs to their homes. G. McNamara said that the WECHU can write a letter of request to make a recommendation, but this would be at the will of the government.
        Moved by: Fabio Costante
        Seconded by: Judy Lund
        That the Windsor Essex County Health Unit prepare a Letter of Recommendation to the appropriate Provincial body requesting support for Radon mitigation in the Province of Ontario
        CARRIED
      3. Media Recap
        Brought to the Board for information.
        Moved by: John Scott
        Seconded by: Larry Snively
        That the Information Reports be received.
        CARRIED
    2. RECOMMENDATION/RESOLUTION REPORTS
      1. Children Count Pilot Project (N. Dupuis)
        N. Dupuis brought forward the Children Count Pilot Project Resolution for Board of Health approval.
        N. Dupuis acknowledged R. D’Souza for the significant amount of work dedicated to this project over the past 5 years. G. McNamara commended N. Dupuis and her team,
        noting that the gauge is poverty and Windsor Essex leads the provincial average in key issues like childhood obesity, diabetes and healthy eating.
        Moved by: Rino Bortolin
        Seconded by: Ed Sleiman
        That the Recommendation/Resolution Report be supported.
        CARRIED
  6. Business Arising – None
  7. Board Correspondence – Circulated
  8. New Business
    1. Public Health Modernization Update (T. Marentette)
      This item on the agenda has been moved for discussion in Committee of the Whole.
    2. Board of Health Elections 2020 (T. Marentette)
      G. McNamara noted that Board Elections will take place at the February 20, 2020 Board of Health meeting. Nominations will be accepted between now and the February board meeting.
      Moved by: Rino Bortolin
      Seconded by: Fabio Costante
      That the above information be received.
      CARRIED
  9. Other Board of Health Resolutions/Letters – For Support
    1. Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit – Letter to Hon. Minister Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health – National Pharmacare Program
      Moved by: Rino Bortolin
      Seconded by: Larry Snively
      That the above correspondence be supported as noted.
      CARRIED
  10. Additions to Agenda (G. McNamara)
    1. Flu Season Update
      G. McNamara requested an update on this year’s flu season. Dr. Ahmed noted that there are 39 confirmed Influenza cases locally, about 50/50 of both strains A and B. This has been a typical flu season so far and we will continue to monitor. Since the flu season typically runs into April, it is still not too late to receive the flu shot. We continue to monitor the recent outbreak in Wuhan China and we receive regular updates. There have been 14 cases of the virus in China, 2 in Thailand and 1 in Japan.
    2. Pickering Nuclear Generating Station – False Alarm
      The recent alert regarding the false alarm at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, and our close proximity to the US Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant, has prompted individuals in our community to request Potassium Iodide (KI) Pills. The health unit has received 400 calls this week and we have organized 3 sessions for individuals to pick up KI pills. There will be 2 sessions in Windsor and 1 in Leamington and the information is our website.
  11. Committee of the Whole (CLOSED SESSION, in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act)
    The Board moved into Committee of the Whole at 5:26 pm
    The Board moved out of Committee of the Whole at 5:58 pm
  12. Next Meeting: At the Call of the Chair, or February 20, 2020 in Windsor, Ontario
  13. Adjournment
    Moved by: Joe Bachetti
    Seconded by: John Scott
    That the meeting be adjourned
    CARRIED
    The meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.

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