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March 30, 2004 Minutes COUNTY COUNCIL Tuesday, March 30, 2004 The Elgin County Council met this day at the Administration Building, at 9:03 AM. in accordance with adjournment, with all members present except Councillor Vowel (on vacation). Warden Rock in the Chair. Council stood in a moment of silence to honour the passing of Past Warden Dave Cook. Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor Hofhuis THAT we do now proceed in Committee Of The Whole Council. - Carried. Warden Rock noted this is a working meeting to discuss the Homes for Seniors' Budgets and Needs Assessment for County Roads and outlined the process that would be followed. Preferred Option - Director of Financial Services The Director of Financial Services presented the Preferred Option for the 2004 budget, which would result in an increase of 19.58% over 2003 amounts. The main increases are in Homes' for Seniors, Land Ambulance, and the return to full payment for OMERS. Council could consider a decrease in staffing or increasing preferred accommodation charges to a 60/40% split with Residents. Warden Rock encouraged Councillors to find an increase level that is acceptable and the entire budget would be discussed further at the April meeting. REPORTS Warden Rock welcomed the Senior Managers of the Homes to the meeting and each presented their section budgets. NursinQ and Personal Care. EIQin Manor - ManaQer of Resident Care The Manager of Resident Care reviewed the changes in care and type of resident at all the Homes resulting in much more complex requirements than in the past. Councillors questioned a change to four hour shifts and the effect on staff; activation benefits to Residents; requirement for more staffing to accommodate logistics of the new Home; rates for an "A" facility versus a "D" facility; commitment of a staff person to review documentation submissions to maximize funding, among other items. Council took a break at 10:08 AM. and reconvened at 10:24 AM. Dietary. HousekeepinQ and Laundry. EIQin Manor - ManaQer of Home Services The Manager of Home Services noted that raw food costs have increased greatly and Residents' diets have become more complex. The Manager of Homes Services also noted that machines to do laborious jobs such as floor cleaning and polishing would reduce hours required by staff. ProQram and Support. EIQin Manor - ManaQer of ProQram and Therapy Services The Manager of Program and Therapy Services noted that evening/weekend programming being provided was above Ministry standards and could be discontinued without affecting the standard of care. County Council 2 March 30,2004 NursinQ and Personal Care. Terrace LodQe - ManaQers of Resident Care The Manager of Resident Care, Ms. Sherrie Rastel, reviewed the logistics of Terrace Lodge, which requires additional staff time to porter Residents to the dining room. The Manager noted with staff workloads, it would be beneficial to have staff persons dedicated to charting to ensure maximum funding is received from the Province and Council discussed potential benefits of such a position. The Manager of Resident Care, Ms. Carol Bradley, noted concern for cutting weekend programs and its affect on Residents with dementia and increased workload for staff. ProQram and Support. Terrace LodQe and Bobier Villa - ManaQer of ProQram and Therapy Services The Manager of Program and Therapy Services reviewed recreational and activation programs at Terrace Lodge and Bobier Villa and explained the educational background required for activation personnel. 2004 Dietary. Terrace LodQe - Nutritional ManaQement Services Ms. Jennifer Wilkinson, Nutritional Management Services, noted the various dietary requirements of residents at Terrace Lodge and explained initiatives in place to reduce food waste. NursinQ and Personal Care. Bobier Villa - ManaQer of Resident Care The Manager of Resident Care expanded on care and control of residents with psychological conditions. The Manager noted that having a quality assurance program in place would address issues before they become a problem. Support Services. Bobier Villa - ManaQer of Home Services The Manager of Home Services noted that the requirement to have two food choices available to every resident contributes to waste. The Warden thanked all the senior staff for attending and providing a very enlightening presentation on operations and challenges at the County's Homes for Seniors. Council recessed at 12:20 P.M and reconvened at 1 :09 P.M. Moved by Councillor Acre Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT the reports entitled "Nursing and Personal Care Budget - Elgin Manor" from the Manager of Resident Care; "Dietary Budget - Elgin Manor" from the Manager of Home Services; "Housekeeping and Laundry Budget - Elgin Manor" from the Manager of Home Services; "Program and Support Budget - Elgin Manor" from the Manager of Program and Therapy Services; "Nursing and Personal Care Budget - Terrace Lodge" from the Managers of Resident Care; "Program and Support Budget - Terrace Lodge" and "Program and Support Budget - Bobier Villa" from the Manager of Program and Therapy Services; "2004 Dietary Budget - Terrace Lodge" from Jennifer Wilkinson, Nutritional Management Services; "Nursing and Personal Care Budget - Bobier Villa" from the Manager of Resident Care; and "Support Services Budget - Bobier Villa" from the Manager of Home Services, be received and filed. - Carried. CORRESPONDENCE Items for Consideration 1. OANHSS "Keep the Promise" Pre-Budget Campaign requesting that members consider supporting the efforts to secure operating dollars for long-term care and community services. County Council 3 March 30,2004 Moved by Councillor Hofhuis Seconded by Councillor Wilson THAT the Corporation of the County of Elgin supports the Ontario Association of Non- Profit Homes and Services for Seniors in its campaign to cause the government to live up to its election promises and copies be forwarded to the local MP, MPP, and to Elgin's municipalities for support. - Carried Unanimously. Warden Rock thanked the Home's staff for presenting the information reports this morning and indicated the contents would be considered further during the 2004 Comprehensive Budget deliberations. The Homes' senior staff left at 1: 19 P.M. Option Two - Director of Financial Services The Director of Financial Services highlighted reductions in staffing to the Homes which could be considered as well as the subsequent loss of service, to result in a smaller increase to the overall budget, but noted staff does not recommend this option. Moved by Councillor Baldwin Seconded by Councillor Wilson THAT the reports entitled "Preferred Option" and "Option Two" dated March 24,2004 from the Director of Financial Services be received and filed. - Carried. Draft 2005 and 2006 BudQets - Director of Financial Services The Director of Financial Services noted that the estimated budgets for 2005 and 2006 show increases of between 4-6% but there may be unknown expenditures. Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor Hofhuis THAT the estimated budgets for 2005 and 2006 from the Director of Financial Services be received and filed. - Carried. The Chief Administrative Officer summarized the points to be revisited from this morning, regarding the 60-40 split with Residents for preferred accommodation charges and the research of costing to provide dedicated staff to carry out documentation and charting versus potential funding benefits. Moved by Councillor Hofhuis Seconded by Councillor Acre THAT staff be directed to research the costs and benefits of implementing a 60-40 preferred accommodation policy for admission to the County Homes and report to Council. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Warwick Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT staff be directed to research the costs and benefits of dedicating staff at the County Homes to prepare charts for classification and report to Council. - Carried. The above two reports are to be available for the April 13 meeting and the 2004 County budget will be presented with the changes for further discussion. Council took a break at 2:09 P.M. and reconvened at 2:20 P.M. County Council 4 March 30,2004 The Manager of Engineering Services noted the bus for the west-end road tour would leave the Administration Building at 8:30 AM. on April 5th. Councillors were asked to advise how many would be participating in the tour for planning purposes. The State of the County of EIQin Road System - ManaQer of EnQineerinQ Services The Manager of Engineering Services, using powerpoint, highlighted the needs' assessment of the County road system and what is proposed for 2004. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of collecting a percentage of the fuel tax and the following motion was adopted: Moved by Councillor Wilson Seconded by Councillor Mcintyre THAT the Ontario Good Roads Association be requested to develop a formula for the fair and equitable distribution of the gas tax rebate for consideration by the senior levels of government in an effort to acquire this revenue in an expeditious manner. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Hofhuis Seconded by Councillor Mcintyre THAT the report entitled "The State of the County of Elgin Roads System" dated March 10, 2004 from the Manager of Engineering Services be received and filed. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Faulds Seconded by Councillor Acre THAT we adopt the recommendations of the Committee Of The Whole Council. - Carried. BY-LAW Moved by Councillor Mcintyre Seconded by Councillor Warwick THAT By-Law No. 04- 09 "A By-Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the March 30th, 2004 meeting" be read a first and second time. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Acre Seconded by Councillor Faulds THAT By-Law No. 04-09 be read a third time and finally passed. - Carried. Moved by Councillor Baldwin Seconded by Councillor Wilson THAT we do now adjourn at 3:17 P.M. to meet again on April 13th, 2004 at 9:00 AM. - Carried. Mark G. McDonald, Chief Administrative Officer. David Rock, Warden.