May 10/05 Report
Scheduled start time: 9:30 am. Actual start time: 9:40 am.
Adjournment: 10:50 am.

ATTENDANCE of Committee Members ( A = absent ; N/M = non-member )

• Brian McHattie 9:35am - stayed for whole meeting, no breaks
• Bob Bratina 9:30am - stayed for whole meeting, no breaks
• Bernie Morelli 9:55am - stayed for rest of the meeting, no breaks
• Sam Merulla 9:25am - stayed for whole meeting, no breaks
• Bill Kelly 9:35am - out from 9:45-9:55 and 10:00-10:15
• Tom Jackson 9:58am - NM, but stayed for rest of the meeting, no breaks
• Terry Whitehead 9:40am - NM, but stayed until 10:00

Media:

• CFMU: Maggie
• CHML: Ken Mann

Others:

• Cynthia Brunswig & Sheila Moser from Bug Buster Clinic

Staff:

• J. Priel,
• E. Richardson,
• V. Woodcox,
• J. Brown,
• C. Bian,
• I. Sturgeon

Observations/Comments:

Kelly, Morelli, Jackson chatted through staff presentation

5. CONSENT ITEMS

5.1 West Nile Virus 2004 Budget Update SPH05026 (City Wide) http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Social-Public-Health/2005/May10/SPH05026.pdf

• no discussion or questions from Council
• clerk suggests a "friendly amendment to remove this item from outstanding list
• report was received. Kelly/Bratina 

6. DELEGATIONS

6.1 Cynthia Brunswig and Sheila Moser respecting Closure of the Bug Buster Program
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Social-Public-Health/2005/May10/Item%206.1.pdf
Bug Buster is a head lice prevention and treatment program.

• Sheila Moser shared her concerns about closing the Bug Buster Clinic. She noted the importance of this program and asked Committee to continue it.
• J. Priel said the program had been funded for a two years by the Province. She was concerned it was ending and possible impacts to the community. The City has funding to continue until Dec. and is looking for community partners to provide $ so the program can continue. Only $60,000 is needed.
• Merulla asked why province didn't continue funding. Priel said target uses for NCB had changed. Merulla asked for a motion to direct staff to find funding. Whitehead said lice was not an inner city problem, can cause stigmas, supported Merulla. [Committee had to wait a few minutes for Kelly to return to Chambers, to have a quorum to continue.]
• Committee approved a recommendation directing staff to seek a funding source to continue the Bug Buster Program beyond Dec. 2005.
• Report received. Merulla/Bratina

7. STAFF PRESENTATIONS

7.1 Inventory of City of Hamilton Subsidized Citizen User Fees Report (SPH05022) (City Wide)
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Social-Public-Health/2005/May10/SPH05022.pdf

• C. Bian, Senior Policy Analyst, made a presentation re: user fees which are subsidized by the City. She outlined the project and explained how the information had been collected. The total subsidized for citizen user fees this year was $3,000,000.00+ in 2003 and will be the same or more in 2004.
• She offered some other areas that might be explored including comparing City costs to those of other municipalities, exploring alternate funding sources, streamlining procedures and definitions of eligibilities.
• Bratina asked about to the number of user fee programs and whether the review provided data about whether programs were being used to the max. Bian said they couldn't determine that. Merulla asked about the criteria used to provide assistance. Bian said that age was the first filter. Priel mentioned that privacy laws prevent the Dept from sharing personal info' among departments. McHattie was concerned about the large amount of money ($3 million) and accountability. He asked about public awareness, whether or not we are providing the service to those who needed it most and what would be the next steps to continue the project. He asked Committee to refer this matter to the Strategic Planning & Budgets Sub-Committee for an operational review. The Committee agreed and also recommended that the City's Efficiency & Effectiveness Strategy Team implement the next 5 phases of the project. Priel agreed with this idea. Jackson wanted this matter to come back to Committee for an update.
• Motion was made and the report was received . McHattie/Morelli

8. DISCUSSION ITEMS

8.1 Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, Spring 2005 Update (HCS04072a) (City Wide)
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
Social-Public-Health/2005/May10/HCS04072a.pdf
"The City of Hamilton serves as the Community Entity for the facilitation of the Updated Community Plan for Homelessness (SPH00062b) under the Federal Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative II. The initiative is for an additional three year period (2003 - 2006) involving $12.9 million dollars in funding for programs to address homelessness. The agreement was effective on March 22, 2004 . This report constitutes a twelve month update on the progress made towards addressing the five priorities identified in the Community Plan."

• no discussion or questions from Council
• report received. Kelly/Morelli

13. PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

13.1 Discontinuation of Ontario Works Intake Screening Unit (SPH05016)
When we re-entered Chamber a motion was made by Morelli/Jackson that the mayor be directed to correspond with the Minister of Social Services to state that the funding is inadequate to maintain an Intake Office for OW and that copies of this correspondence be distributed to other municipalities.