The Finance and Property Committee of the Board of Health approves a 2% raise in the design cost estimate.
The Board of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit held back to back committee meetings for close to four hours on Wednesday night; with most of that time spent in camera (only board members were allowed).
The Personnel Policy, Labour/Employee Relations Committee had the board go in camera to discuss negotiations with Ontario Public Services Employees Union and the Ontario Nurses’ Association.
The Finance and Property Committee of the Board of Health went in camera to discuss the Proposed or Pending Acquisition of Land concerning plans for a new 55,000 sq. ft. building on two pieces of land on Oak Street. Architect Paul Mitchell joined the board for the in camera session.
The board then passed a resolution to accept the financial plan.
Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jim Chirico explains. “Eventually, all that will be public, but we have to be careful in releasing that information before we go to tender and before we go to municipalities for approval.”
Chirico will be looking for at least 16 municipalities to approve a new building out of the 31 municipalities the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit represents.
Chirico says there are three cost estimates. “One, we’ve gotten in the schematic design phase, the second one we will probably have in the next couple of weeks with cost estimates much more precise. The final estimate will consider construction.”
Chirico says that if this second cost estimate phase on design details comes in within 2% of the financial plan, then the board will not need to meet again.
Dr. Chirico spoke of a community kitchen being part of the new building plan. The Health Unit is mandated to provide training for food handlers as well as education for healthy eating. Currently, space is sought elsewhere.
Chirico says a fundraising campaign might be in the works for needed items in the new building. “There are grants to support community projects so we can buy a refrigerator.”
Currently, the health unit operates out of three sites: 21,360 square feet at 681 Commercial St., 4,000 square feet at 700 Cassells St. and 6,875 square feet at 222 McIntyre St. W.
The last in camera session was held to talk about litigation or potential litigation.
Recently, the medical officer of health filed a notice of appeal in its contempt of court case against Rob Szalas.
In April, Justice Paul Rivard dismissed a motion of contempt against Szalas for failing to surrender his dog Dunaj to be euthanized after complaints of biting four people.
In the notice, the Health Unit orders that Szalas be granted an opportunity to purge his contempt, failing which a period of incarceration should be ordered.
