District of Cochrane Social Services Administration Board

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1 District of Cochrane Social Services Administration Board MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 AT 4:30 P.M. In the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 88 Room Present Mayor Alan Spacek - Chair Mayor Peter Politis Mayor Michael Shea Mayor Johanne Baril Councillor Councillor Pat Bamford Councillor Noella Rinaldo Councillor André Grzela Councillor Walter Wawrzaszek Councillor Joe Campbell Councillor Conrad Morin Councillor Gilles Laderoute David Landers Regrets Mayor Steven Black - Vice-Chair Marc Dupuis Staff Brian Marks, Director of Housing Linda O Connell, Director of Finance Jean Carriere, Director of EMS Beth Nowak, Manager of Children s Services Guest Lindsay Verdu, Ross Pope LLP CPAS 1. a) New Board Member Introductions and Information Sheet New board members were welcomed and introductions were made. b) Approval of Agenda - Resolution # Resolution No Gilles Laderoute

2 THAT the agenda for the January 15, 2015 CDSSAB board meeting be approved. c) Board Member Absences Mayor Steven Black and Marc Dupuis were absent from the meeting. d) Disclosure of Pecuniary / Conflict of Interest No disclosures were made. 2. a) Approval of Minutes October 16, Resolution # Resolution No Noella Rinaldo Pat Bamford THAT the minutes of the October 16, 2014 CDSSAB board meeting be approved. b) Business Arising from Minutes The Future of the EMS Base in South Porcupine Councillor Bamford questioned if the EMS base in South Porcupine was scheduled for closure. The CAO assured everyone that no directive had been issued to staff saying that the base would close or that there would be no night shift. The Director of EMS and the CAO will attempt to find out where the miscommunication came from and meet with staff to explain changes that are being implemented. c) Audit Plan Presented by Lindsay Verdu, Ross Pope LLP CPAS Ms. Verdu outlined the responsibilities of the auditors and of the board. 3. Elections a) Election of the Chair and Vice-chair of the CDSSAB Nominations Chairperson Resolution #15-003

3 The meeting was turned over to the CAO for the election of the Chair. Resolution No Pat Bamford André Grzela THAT nominee, Alan Spacek, accepts the position of Chair for the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board. Destroy Ballots Resolution # Resolution cancelled since no voting took place. Nominations Vice-chair Resolution # The meeting was turned over to the Chair for the election of the Vice-Chair. Resolution No Pat Bamford THAT nominee, Steven Black, accepts the position of Vice-Chair for the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board. Destroy Ballots Resolution # Resolution cancelled since no voting took place. b) Appointment of Members to the Audit and Housing Committee Administrative Report -Resolution # Resolution No Walter Wawrzaszek THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the following members are appointed as the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board s Audit and Housing Committee. o Alan Spacek Chair

4 o Steven Black Vice-Chair o Conrad Morin o Peter Politis c) Appointment of Voting Members for the NOSDA Annual General Meeting Administrative Report Resolution # The NOSDA AGM will take place in Thunder Bay from April 15 to 17. All board members are welcome to attend. An alternate may be chosen at the next board meeting. Resolution No Pat Bamford Peter Politis THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board appoint Alan Spacek and Steven Black as voting members for the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association s Annual General Meeting. 4. Administration Board Governance Orientation The CAO gave a presentation of the background, board structure and governance of the CDSSAB. Information sessions for each department will be conducted prior to future board meetings. Insured Renewal Report and Annual Financial Review of Self-funded Benefits - Administrative Report 5. Finance Employee benefits are broken down into two categories 1) Administrative Plan that is a pay as you go type of plan for dental and extended health; and 2) Premium Plan that covers life insurance and LTD. Weighted Assessment Calculation for the 2015 Municipal Budget Cost Apportionment - Resolution # The Director of Finance explained how the weighted assessment is calculated and provided an example in the Administrative Report.

5 Resolution No Peter Politis André Grzela THAT the Weighted Assessment Calculation for the 2015 Municipal Budget Cost Apportionment report be approved as presented CDSSAB Budget Considerations - Administrative Report The budget will be presented to the board at the next board meeting. The CAO pointed out some considerations such as a 5% increase to insurance and that the CDSSAB is in collective bargaining for both locals. Also, we do internal financing for projects and have given loans to organizations as part of the investment approach that sees a greater return than GICs. Q3 Financial Reports - Resolution # o Statement of Operations o Variance Analysis Funding is broken down by funding streams. Revenue is offset by costs. The fourth quarter figures historically have gone down. Ontario Works has seen an increase due to an increase in caseloads; the mitigation funding received for the implementation of the new funding model for Child Care has not been spent; the increase to EMS is due to the timing of capital expenditures and fuel and maintenance costs; and the big cost driver for Housing Services are utilities. Resolution No Gilles Laderoute THAT the Financial Variance Analysis for the period ending September 30 th, 2014 be approved as presented rd Quarter Reports - Resolution # Resolution No Moved: Seconded: Conrad Morin

6 THAT the 3 rd Quarter Departmental Reports be accepted as presented. 1. Housing Services Administrative Report The mobile maintenance technology has been implemented. The CDSSAB is now the contract property management for Fairway Village. The Director explained that vacancy loss is any unit without a tenant for more than sixty days. An elevator has been installed in a two-storey walk-up in Cochrane. 2. Ontario Works Income & Emergency Assistance Administrative Report The main focus has been the preparation for the implementation of SAMS. CHPI funding is invested in community based agencies for victims of domestic violence, low income earners, etc. 3. Ontario Works Employment Services Administrative Report Staff have been training for SAMS. Employment Services has been successful in meeting all of their target achievements set out by the province. Funding for employer based training has been received under the Canada Ontario Job Grant. 4. Children s Services Children s Services contracts services to twenty-one service providers and directly operates home day care in Timmins under Northern Treasures. The CDSSAB does not license programs; that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education. The new programs started last year were located in schools. The CDSSAB has not received any new information on the wage enhancement grant. 5. Emergency Medical Services The pilot program for Community Paramedicine will be in place by March. The CDSSAB has received funding from the Ministry of Health to get this program up and running. Funding was received for an Off Load Dedicated Nurse at Timmins and District Hospital to assist in patient transfers. An awards night was held to acknowledge years of service and recognize the excellent work of the paramedics. The Director of EMS outlined some of the challenges faced in preparing for the event of a case of Ebola. Updated Contracted Services contracts are ready to be signed with hospitals in Kapuskasing and Hearst.

7 7. Ontario Works SAMS Advocacy - Administrative Report Additional Funding for SAMS Implementation Additional Administrative Relief re: Implementation of the Social Assistance Management System The new social assistance software is being implemented province-wide. Client application times have increased from ½ hour to 1½ hours per application and a complicated application can take up to 3 hours. Staff are currently working on a manual system and then inputting the data. There may be significant long term costs caused by staff going off due to stress and overtime needed to complete their work. Financial reporting is lacking and reconciling will be difficult. Issues have been raised with NOSDA, OMSSA, AMO and the Ministry. The board asked that the CAO commend the staff for their hard work. Social Assistance, Pension, and Tax Credit Rates For information purposes only. Realizing Our Potential - Ontario s Poverty Reduction Strategy This report was announced by the government with a long term goal to end homelessness. The report is broken down into four areas 1) Continuing to Break the Cycle for Children and Youth 2) Moving Towards Employment & Income Security 3) A Long-Term Goal to End Homelessness in Ontario 4) using Evidence-Based Social Policy and Measuring Success, with the focus on youth unemployment. Letter to Ministers Zimmer and Moridi from OFIFC For information purposes only. 8. Children s Services 9. Housing Child Care Modernization Act Administrative Report For information purposes only. The Child Care Modernization Act 2014 replaces the Day Nurseries Act of Homelessness in Northern Ontario

8 10. EMS The report recognizes that there is a homelessness problem in northern Ontario. Investment in Affordable Housing Extension - Administrative Report Money for IAH is allocated by population count. The CDSSAB has a good track record of spending our allocations as it is issued on a use it or lose it basis. Funding reaches a lot of low income people and is used for home ownership, home repair and housing allowance. Housing Development Update - Administrative Report In-house housing development began three years ago. The CDSSAB began purchasing units and flipping them. The Director of Housing outlined the current projects in progress and explained that this is the reason a Housing Committee was formed. Letter from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Re: approved one-time funding For information purposes only. Letter from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Re: Non-urgent patient transfers 11. Reports For information purposes only. Caseload Staffing There were no questions regarding the reports. 12. Next Meeting Date February 19, 2015 The next regular meeting of the CDSSAB Board is scheduled for February 19, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. 10. Adjournment RESOLUTION # Resolution No

9 Conrad Morin THAT the January 15, 2015 CDSSAB board meeting be adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Alan Spacek, Chair David Landers, CAO

MINUTES OF A BOARD MEETING OF THE DISTRICT OF COCHRANE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BOARD

MINUTES OF A BOARD MEETING OF THE DISTRICT OF COCHRANE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BOARD HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009 IN THE CDSSAB BOARD ROOM AT 6:00 P.M. Present Councillor Gary Scripnick, Chair