Sudbury Soils Study

Public Advisory Committee - Meeting #13

March 16, 2004 – 6:00 p.m.

Koski Centre - Cambrian College

 

 

Attendees:                 Ivan Filion                                Joe Cimino                              John Hogenbirk                                              

Gary Hrytsak                           Aino Laamanen                       Paul St. Jean

                                    Ersin Abdullah                         Bob Somek                             Carol Zippel                

                                                                                            

Process Observer: Franco Mariotti

 

Absent:                       Rubina Nebenionquit               Darrell Alston 

                                   

TC Members:            Marc Butler                              Brian McMahon                       Stephen Monet

Ido Vettoretti                            Glen Watson                          

 

SARA Group:             Shawna Peddle                       Glenn Ferguson

           

Chair:                          Ivan Filion

Recorder:                  Julie Sabourin

 

 

Public (21)

 

1.0       CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. following dinner.  The Vice-Chair welcomed guests and media present and indicated that an opportunity to address the PAC would be made under item 4.0 – Open Forum on the agenda. Thirty minutes would be allocated for this activity.

 

2.0       DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

None.

 

3.0       ADDITIONS TO/APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

Move 7.3 and 7.2 as the next items on the agenda following the Open Forum.

 

04-2004           Moved by St. Jean – Hrytsak:  That the agenda be approved as amended.  CARRIED

 

7.0       BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

7.3       Selection of PAC Members

 

            The PAC was informed that a sub-committee of the TC that included the WG and the PAC reviewed and interviewed candidates following an ad that was placed in the newspapers in November.  The sub-committee selected three new members:

 

            1.         Carol Zippel

            2.         Bob Somek

            3.         Ersin Abdullah

The PAC indicated they were in favour of adding these three new members to the Committee and then invited them to join the table wherein they were officially welcomed to the Committee.

 

Following this, it was noted that Dino Masiero had submitted his resignation. It was also noted that the complement of the PAC had not reached the recommended maximum of 12.  For this reason Gary Hrytsak requested the TC initiate the process to select another three members to bring the committee to full membership.  It was discussed that this recommended number would exceed the required number, but Ivan Filion indicated he would be submitting his resignation in the coming months.  It was also suggested to the public that if they had previously submitted their application, it may not necessarily have been retained and that anyone with a previous interest in joining the PAC should re-submit.

 

            7.2       Election of Chair and Co-Chair

           

            It was requested that Franco Mariotti, the Independent Process Observer, chair this portion of the meeting.

 

F. MARIOTTI PRESIDING

 

05-2004:          Moved by Filion – Cimino:  That John Hogenbirk be nominated as Chair of the PAC for 2004.

 

John indicated he would stand for this position and this nomination was carried.

 

06-2004:          Moved by Somek – Laamanen:  That Gary Hrytsak be nominated as Vice-Chair of the PAC for 2004.

 

Gary indicated he would stand for this position and this nomination was carried.

 

            The committee thanked Ivan for his efforts and expressed their appreciation for the leadership and guidance he has provided.

 

J. HOGENBIRK PRESIDING

 

4.0       INTRODUCTONS

 

Members of the PAC, TC and SARA Group introduced themselves to those of the public in attendance.

 

5.0       OPEN FORUM (30 min)

 

There were no requests to address the PAC at this time.  The Chair forwarded an e-mail received from Mr. Gillespie for TC attention. The public were informed that should they have any questions to pose to the Committee they can do so via the website and the toll free number.

 

6.0       PRESENTATION

 

            6.1       HHRA Methodology Report

 

            Glenn Ferguson provided an overview of the proposed HHRA methodology for a better understanding of the process.  Clarification was requested in several areas to which Glenn was able to respond.

            PAC members raised concerns about the level of information being shared and suggested strongly, with examples, that the pubic would prefer answers to specific questions rather than general reassurances.

 

6.0       APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

            6.1       Minutes of Meeting #12 – January 20, 2004

 

07-2004           Moved by Hrytsak – St. Jean:  That the minutes of meeting #12 dated January 20, 2004 be approved as distributed.  CARRIED

 

            7.1       Review of PAC Terms of Reference

 

John had incorporated the changes from the last meeting.  To allow the new members an opportunity to provide their input, it was agreed that any additional changes would be forwarded to John electronically.  This document would then be approved at the next meeting.

Action:  PAC members to forward additional changes electronically to the Chair. 

 

7.4       PAC Annual Report

 

            This document was approved.

 

08-2004           Moved by Hrytsak – Cimino:  That the PAC Annual Report be forwarded to the TC for their information.   CARRIED

 

7.5              Progress Report from the SARA Group

7.6              Progress Report from TC

 

Shawna made note of a recent newspaper article in which Chris was quoted as saying the Study may be delayed.  She clarified his comment by stating that Chris’ remark was a reminder to TC members to ensure that they honour the schedule for approval of reports.

 

Shawna also reported that the Telephone Survey will be moving forward in the spring; letters will be going out to those that participated in the Vegetable Garden Survey with their results; the physician’s information package has been given to the Health Unit for distribution later this month; the Sudbury Restoration workshop on February 18^th and 19^th was a huge success; the Qs and As will be placed on the website this month; and, the next edition of the Update newsletter is underway.

 

It was also noted that the Soils Data Release will be distributed in the spring to local libraries and some public offices.  As well it will be posted on the website.  There will be a press release issued related to this distribution. This report is approximately 2,000 pages and contains the urban data (MOE soil analysis results) and the remote data (Laurentian University and Golder soil analysis results). The TC has requested that SARA develop the Summary Data Report and that both the Urban Data and Remote Data would appear as separate appendices.

 

Shawna then provided some highlights of the Communication Plan as tabled by the Communications Sub-Committee and approved by the TC.

 

She then asked for PAC participation by reviewing the Telephone Survey document which will reach approximately 600 homes.  Also in relation to the Food Consumption Survey, the SARA Group needs a pre-test group of 15 to 20 homes and asked for volunteers to e-mail her their willingness to participate. It is expected this survey would be sent to 3500 residences wherein they expect a 33% response rate.

 

PAC members indicated their willingness to participate in the pilot tests of the Telephone Survey and Food Consumption Survey.  The request was made that PAC results be excluded from the final report, given that PAC results may not be typical of the population or community at large.

 

8.0       NEW BUSINESS

 

8.1       Change of Location of PAC Meetings

 

A suggestion was received by the TC to bring the PAC meetings out to the community and the PAC were asked to address this request.  Following discussion it was agreed that a meeting would be held in each ward and in the First Nations community as well. 

 

09-2004:          Moved by Filion – Hrytsak: The PAC requests that the WG facilitate the decision to host PAC meetings in each ward and in the First Nations community and arrange for an appropriate schedule and venue.  The PAC also requests the SARA Group to advertise these locations with the media as appropriate.       CARRIED

 

9.0       TC MEETINGS

 

9.1       Minutes of TC Meeting:       #28 December 11, 2003

                                                            #29 February 12, 2004

These minutes were tabled for information.  

 

9.0       ADDENDUM

 

            9.1       Medical and Health Expertise

 

            The question was raised as to what medical and/or health expertise the TC, and subsequently the PAC, had available to them.  It was explained that the TC has a medical sub-committee that includes Dr. Gord Hall, Dr. Bob Francis, Dr. Lesbia Smith and Dr. Penny Sutcliffe. This group meets as required.  It was noted that Dr. Sutcliffe is the Medical Officer of Health and she is mandated by law to take any action necessary if any concerns arise related to the health of the public.  Access to these physicians by the public can be done via the website and the toll free number. 

 

10.0     NEXT MEETING

 

May 18, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. – Site to be determined

 

11.0     ADJOURNMENT

 

10-2004           Moved by Hrytsak – St. Jean: That this meeting be adjourned.  CARRIED

 

 

_______________________________                      _____________________________

                        Chair, John Hogenbirk                                                Recorder, Julie Sabourin