March 2025 Board of Health Meeting - Minutes

Meeting Date
March 2025 Board of Health Meeting
Meeting Document Type
Minutes

Board Members Present:

Dr. Mark Awuku, Joe Bachetti, Dr. Jennifer Bondy, Fabio Costante, Fred Francis, Dr. Sardar Khan, Hilda MacDonald, Angelo Marignani, Michael Prue, Rob Shepley (3:23 pm)

Board Member Regrets:

Renaldo Agostino, Robert Maich, Jennifer Yee

Administration Present:

Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Dr. Ken Blanchette, Michael Horrobin, Kristy McBeth, Eric Nadalin, Dan Sibley, Linda Watson, Emily Durance (recorder)

Board Chair

Joe Bachetti

QUORUM: Confirmed

  1. Call to Order     
    Board of Health Chair, F. Costante, called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm.
    1. Land Acknowledgement – Read by Board Chair, J. Bachetti
    2. Quorum – Confirmed at 3:02 pm
    3. Declaration of Conflict of Interest – none  
  2. Approval of Agenda
    Motion:       That the agenda be approved with the above addition.
    Moved by: Dr. Khan
    Seconded by: H. MacDonald
    CARRIED
  3. Approval of Minutes: February 6, 2025
    Motion:       That the minutes be approved.
    Moved by: A. Marignani
    Seconded by: F. Costante
    CARRIED
  4. Medical Officer of Health Updates: Status of Measles in Our Region (Dr. M. Aloosh)
    Dr. Mehdi Aloosh presented the latest updates on the measles cases in Windsor-Essex County.

    Dr. Aloosh reported that the risk to the public in the community is low based on the good immunity of the general population.

    The WECHU has made adjustments to our operations to support increased case and contact management, with our Infectious Diseases Department team working additional hours and weekends. The WECHU is in collaboration with Healthcare Providers to support the measles response, as well as other Public Health Units and the Province.

    Dr. Aloosh provided updated vaccination recommendations for healthcare providers and caregivers of young children aged 6-12 months. Local healthcare providers can conduct individual risk assessments for patients 6-12 months of age, who have not started the recommended series of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Based on individual levels of risk, healthcare providers should consider administering a dose of MMR ahead of schedule. This dose would be an additional dose to existing recommended series.

    In addition, the WECHU is in conversation with the Province around other vulnerable populations. i.e. International Agricultural Workers (IAWs). 

    More information can be found at the WECHU measles landing page: (https://www.wechu.org/z-health-topics/measles).

    Board Member, H. MacDonald, asked if the WECHU knows the vaccination rate amongst the individuals coming from other countries to work in our local farm industry. Dr. Aloosh responded that the WECHU has been trying to understand the vaccination status of the International Agricultural Workers (IAWs). There is no mandate in place for vaccination rates among the IAWs.

    Board Member, A. Marignani, asked if the WECHU knows the number of measles infections of individuals under the age of one. He asked what the WECHU is doing to prepare in the case of an outbreak. Dr. Aloosh responded that 6.6% of cases are for those under one year of age; in Canada, it is around 10%. He added that that the WECHU does have IMS strategies in place. Our teams are prepared to respond quickly to the ever-changing situation.

    Motion:     That the above information be received. 
    Moved by: F. Francis
    Seconded by: Dr. S. Khan
    CARRIED
  5. Consent Agenda
    1. Information Reports
      1. Communications Reports:
        1. February 2025
      2. Beach Water Quality Results
      3. Animal Bite Investigations in WEC by Municipality
      4. 2024 Q4 Financial Report
      5. WECHU Finance & Audit Committee Revised Terms of Reference
      6. 2024 Annual Service Plan – Q4 Status Report
      7. 2024 Privacy Summary Report     

        Item 5.1.2: Board Member, Angelo Marignani, asked if there is anything that can be done to provide more accurate day-to-day beach water results. Kristy McBeth responded that the forecasting model that the WECHU is implementing this year, with the assistance of the municipalities, is a tool that uses current weather conditions, environmental factors, water turbidity data, and past beach data to predict future water quality results for public beaches. Actual weekly beach closures will still be based on the weekly sample.

        Motion: That the above information be approved.
        Moved by: Dr. Awuku
        Seconded by: F. Francis
        CARRIED
  6. Correspondence
  7. Business Arising
  8. Resolutions/Recommendation Reports
  9. New Business
    1. Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program (Amanda Ryall/Shelley Dunn)
      The Manager of the WECHU’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program, Amanda Ryall, introduced Registered Nurse, Shelley Dunn. 

      S. Dunn shared information about the HBHC Program and the clients we serve. The HBHC program aims to optimize newborn and child growth and development, reduce health inequities, and provide prevention, early identification, and intervention services. The program also offers blended family home visiting, where the nurses collaborate with Family Home Visitors, a Lactation Consultant, and Social Worker.

      The WECHU’s Public Health Nurses support vulnerable families in achieving their identified family-centred goals. Families are also connected to other community services.

      S. Dunn shared that the program’s caseload has increased over the last couple of years as many individuals are experiencing housing and mental health concerns. The HBHC program is meant to be an early intervention program.
      Motion:    That the above information be received.
      Moved by: F. Francis
      Seconded by: F. Costante
      CARRIED
    2. 2025/2026 Budget for Programs Funded by MCCSS (Michael Horrobin)
      Michael Horrobin, Director of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer of the WECHU, shared information around the budget for the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program (HBHC) funded by the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS). The operating budget for the fiscal year April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, requires approval by the Board of Health prior to submission to the Ministry.

      The budget for this important program has been frozen for six years. In July 2024, the MCCSS announced a 6.8% increase in base funding for the April 1/2024 to March 31/25 fiscal year.

      A plan was developed to utilize the additional funding by the end of the fiscal year. M. Horrobin presented the following proposed motion.

      Proposed Motion

      Whereas The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit receives grants from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to fund the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program.

      Whereas the total budgeted expenditures for the Program for the period of April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 is $3,091,990.00,

      Whereas the Finance & Audit Committee reviewed the 2025-2026 Budget for Programs Funded by MCCSS at it’s meeting on March 6, 2025 and recommends for approval to the Board of Health the operating budget for the period of April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026,

      Now therefore be it resolved that the Board of Health approve the 2025/2026 Budget for Programs Funded by the MCCSS for the period April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

      Moved by: F. Francis
      Seconded by: A. Marignani
      CARRIED
    3. Child and Youth Food Insecurity WEC (Karen Bellemore)
      WECHU Registered Dietician, Karen Bellemore, presented on a new Food Insecurity Screening Pilot Project.

      Food insecurity is the inadequate access to food due to financial constraints.

      Between 2021-2023, Windsor and Essex County had a 20.7% household food insecurity rate.

      The interdepartmental pilot project between the Healthy Families and Comprehensive Health Programs will begin in March with staff training, implementation of the Hunger Vital Sign two-question screening tool, developed by Children’s HealthWatch in April, and evaluation of the project in August. This pilot project works to fulfill one of the initiatives outlined in the Food Insecurity Compromises Infant Health Resolution, passed by the board in March of 2024. 

      K. Bellemore shared that there is a lot of advocacy work being done federally and provincially with regards to the price of food and the overall cost of living.
      Motion:    That the above information be received.
      Moved by: M. Prue
      Seconded by: R. Shepley 
      CARRIED
    4. CEO Update (Dr. Ken Blanchette)
      Dr. Ken Blanchette acknowledged our local healthcare providers for their engagement and our three hospitals and EMS for partnership and planning with respect to the measles response.

      Dr. Blanchette brought forward a request for approval for one-time business cases to be included in the 2025 Annual Service Plan Submission (ASP) that will be submitted to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on March 31, 2025. The resolution is as follows:
       

    5. Whereas, the Board of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has approved the 2025 Budget which included budget information for the Mandatory Programs funded by the MOH and the Obligated Municipalities on a cost shared basis and the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program funded at a rate of 100% by the MOH.

      Whereas, the WECHU is required to submit is Annual Service Plan and Budget Submission to the MOH on March 31, 2025, inclusive of the aforementioned budget approvals as well as additional requests for one-time 100% funded business cases from the MOH, and

      Now therefore be it resolved that the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health approve the following additional one-time business cases to be funded at a rate of 100% by the MOH:
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      Motion:    That the above resolution be approved by the Board of Health.
      Moved by: F. Francis
      Seconded by: A. Agostino
      CARRIED

  10. Next Meeting: At the Call of the Chair, or Thursday, May 15, 2025
  11. Adjournment
    Motion: That the meeting session be adjourned.   
    Moved by: F. Francis
    Seconded by: A. Marignani
    CARRIED
    The open meeting session adjourned at 4:47 pm
  12. In-Camera Session (Closed Session in accordance with Section 239 of the Municipal Act)
    The Board moved in-camera at 4:50 pm
    The Board moved out of in-camera at 4:57 pm

RECORDING SECRETARY: E. Durance

SUBMITTED BY: K. Blanchette

APPROVED BY: WECHU Board of Health