Board of Health Meeting for Northeastern Public Health

Held on February 27, 2025 – Microsoft Teams (MS Teams)

Municipal Members:

  • Michelle Boileau, City of Timmins
  • Andrew Marks, City of Timmins
  • Mark Wilson, Temiskaming Shores
  • Jeff Laferriere, Temiskaming Shores
  • Carol Lowery, Rural South: Armstrong, Brethour, Casey, Cobalt, Coleman, Harley, Harris, Hilliard, Hudson, Kerns, Latchford, Temagami, Thornloe
  • Paul Kelly, Rural Central South: Charlton & Dack, Chamberlain, Englehart, Evanturel, Gauthier, James, Larder Lake, McGarry, Matachewan
  • Peter Politis, Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls
  • Marc Dupuis, Rural North: Fauquier-Strickland, Hornepayne, Hearst, Mattice Val Cote, Moonbeam, Opasatika, Val Rita Harty
  • Savion Nakogee, Rural Far North: Moosonee, James Bay and Hudson Bay region
  • Casey Owens, Kirkland Lake
  • Cindy Marks-Campbell, Provincial Appointee
  • Todd Steis, Provincial Appointee
  • David Lowe, Provincial Appointee

Regrets:

  • Tory Delaurier, Rural Central North: Iroquois Falls, Black River Matheson
  • John Curley, City of Timmins
  • Gary Fortin, Kapuskasing
  • Cathy Dwyer, Provincial Appointee
  • Suzanne Perras, Provincial Appointee
  • Curtis Arthur, Provincial Appointee

Northeastern Staff Members:

  • Dr. Lianne Catton, Acting Medical Officer of Health/Chief Executive Officer           
  • Rosa Montico-Reimer, Director of Finance
  • Randy Winters, Director of Corporate and Protection Services
  • Lori McCord, Executive Assistant
  • Rachelle Cote, Executive Assistant

1.0 CALL TO ORDER

CALL TO ORDER: the meeting was called to order at 4:04 pm.

1.1 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION #01-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Paul Kelly

That the agenda for the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit meeting of February 27, 2025, be approved.

CARRIED

1.2 DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE

None declared.

2.0 PREVIOUS MINUTES

2.1 NEPH BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES - JANUARY 30, 2025

MOTION #02-R-2025

Moved by: Jeff Laferriere
Seconded by: Todd Steis

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the minutes for the meeting dated January 30, 2025.

CARRIED

3.0 AGENDA ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, DISCUSSION, DECISION

3.1 ALPHA SYMPOSIUM REPORT (FEB 12-14, 2025)

Dr. Catton provided a brief verbal update of the virtual alPHa Symposium, section of the Medical Officer of Health.

M. Wilson briefed the board on the workshop presentation of Tim Arnold, Leaders for Leaders, in relation to leading change. He noted that some of the best practices are seen through NEPH’s work and planning phases amongst the different teams. Dr. Catton informed that sessions are regularly offered to the management team and staff for connection development while moving through the different phases of the merger.

Chair Boileau presented and led the discussions regarding merger transition challenges and successes to a panel of board chairs and vice-chairs. Many similarities were identified amongst the group.

The Annual General conference will be held in June. More details to be shared over the next few months.

3.2  REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL - PINE ST. TIMMINS HVAC SYSTEM REPAIR

Dr. Catton provided an update of the Pine St. Timmins HVAC system. The enclosed presentation summarizes the key points shared for information purposes.

MOTION #03-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Davide Lowe

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approve the awarding of the HVAC System Repair to N. Lacroix Plumbing & Heating at $873,659.00.

CARRIED

3.3 OMERS PARTICIPATION FR NORTHEASTERN HEALTH UNIT

Dr. Catton informed of the recent communication received from OMERS in regards to the transfer requirement of all memberships from both legacy health units to NEPH. OMERS has recommended the following motion for board approval:

MOTION #04-R-2025

Moved by: Carol Lowery
Seconded by: Cindy Marks-Campbell

WHEREAS Porcupine Health Unit (“Former Employer No. 1”) amalgamated with Timiskaming Health Unit (“Former Employer No. 2”) effective January 1, 2025 (“Amalgamation Date”), and continued on as the Employer;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to subsection 6(1) of the Primary Plan an employer who is eligible under the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, 2006 (“OMERS Act, 2006”) to participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA may, by by-law or resolution, participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA and pay to the funds for the Primary Plan and the RCA the total of the employer and member contributions, and has all of the powers necessary and incidental thereto;

AND WHEREAS Former Employer No. 1 previously enacted a Board Resolution dated September 11, 1964, and elected to participate in the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (which has since been continued as the Primary Plan and the RCA) effective December 1, 1964, and continued participation in the Primary Plan and the RCA on behalf of its employees until the Amalgamation Date;

AND WHEREAS Former Employer No. 2 previously enacted By-law No. 2 and elected to participate in the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System effective December 1, 1963, and continued participation in the Primary Plan and the RCA on behalf of its employees until the Amalgamation Date;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to subsection 9(8) of the Primary Plan, where two or more employers who are eligible to participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA are amalgamated, the new employer is deemed to have elected to participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA on the date of the amalgamation in respect of the employees and of the former employers who were members of the Primary Plan and the RCA on the day immediately preceding such date and who are employed by the new employer on such date;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, effective January 1,2025(“Effective Date”), the Board enacts as follows:

(Participation)
1. The Employer shall participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA in accordance with the terms of the Primary Plan, RCA, and applicable legislation, each as amended from time to time.

(Existing Members)
2. The Employer shall participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA in respect of the Employees (defined below) of Former Employer 1 and Former Employer No. 2 who were members of the Primary Plan and the RCA on the day immediately preceding the Amalgamation Date and who are employed by the Employer on the Amalgamation Date.

(Election re: Employees)
3. As of the Effective Date, the Employer shall participate in the Primary Plan and the RCA in respect of each person who is employed by the Employer and who is eligible to be a member of the Primary Plan and the RCA under subsection 5(3) of the OMERS Act, 2006 (“Employee”), in accordance with the terms of the Primary Plan, RCA, and applicable legislation, each as amended from time to time.

(Future CFT Employees)
4. Every person who becomes an Employee employed on a continuous full-time basis, as defined in subsection 9(1) of the Primary Plan, as amended from time to time (“CFT Employee”), on or after the Effective Date shall, as a condition of employment, become a member of the Primary Plan and the RCA, or if such person is already a member, resume contributions to the Primary Plan and the RCA on the date so employed.

(Membership for OTCFT)
5. An Employee who is employed on other than a continuous full-time basis (“OTCFT Employee”) and meets the eligibility criteria in subsection 9(6) of the Primary Plan, as amended from time to time, is entitled to become a member of the Primary Plan and the RCA in accordance with the terms of the Primary Plan, as amended from time to time.

(Senior Management Official)
6. Any person who holds a senior management position with the Employer, as the Employer may designate from time to time (“Senior Management Official”), is hereby authorized on behalf of the Employer to take all such action and execute all such documents, certificates and agreements, as they may consider necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Resolution and to fulfill the Employer’s duties and obligations with respect to the Primary Plan and the RCA. The Employer further authorizes the Director of Finance to submit forthwith a certified copy of this Resolution to the OMERS Administration Corporation.

DATED this 27 day of February 2025.

That the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit approves the participation in the OMERS Primary Pension Plan and the Retirement Compensation Arrangement for the OMERS Primary Pension Plan.

CARRIED

4.0 MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

Dr. Catton presented an update on the finance/corporate services and recent highlights of key services and programs. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes.

5.0 NEPH MERGER TRANSITION REPORT

Dr. Catton provided an update on the merger transition. The enclosed presentation summarizes the main points shared for information purposes.

6.0 CLOSED SESSION

The Board of Health went into a closed session at 5:11 pm.

MOTION #05-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: David Lowe

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit moves to a closed session as outlined in the Ontario Municipal Act (j) trade secret to consider the branding – NEPH logo.

CARRIED

7.0 RISING AND REPORTING OF CLOSED SESSION

The Board of Health rose from the closed session at 5:31 pm.

MOTION #06-R-2025

Moved by: Paul Kelly
Seconded by: Jeff Laferriere

THAT the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit rise with report.

THAT the Board of health for the Northeastern Health Unit receive the NEPH logo report for information purposes.

CARRIED

8.0 CORRESPONDENCE

The correspondence was received for information purposes.

9.0 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS

The Finance Committee will meet on March 27, 2025 to review the draft 2025 Budget presentation and recommend for Board approval on April 3, 2025. The Board agreed to proceed per the timelines noted above.

10 ADJOURNMENT

MOTION #07-R-2025

Moved by: Andrew Marks
Seconded by: Carol Lowery

THAT the meeting of the Board of Health for the Northeastern Health Unit adjourn at 5:33 pm and that the next meeting be held on April 3, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

CARRIED