Councillor McCann Meeting Report (September 7, 2021)
Belvedere Heights Long Term Care Board of Management Monthly Meeting
On Wednesday morning, August 25, 2021 I attended the Belvedere Heights Long Term Care Board of Management Monthly Meeting via ZOOM.
We had an update on the Belvedere Heights Annual Information Meeting. We ordered a building assessment report to determine what our costs would be over the next ten years if we remain on the hill. Looking at capital costs, maintenance costs, the foundation and so on, it is estimated that it will take 3.2 million dollars to maintain the resident facility there. Even though the Board thought this was a low figure, we still wonder if this will be good money after bad if we don't explore moving elsewhere, such as the Campus of Care model we have been talking about. The Board has a strong desire to re-create the Belvedere brand on the Campus of Care site. Again I would point out that we have outgrown the space we have on the hill. Reports on Friends of Belvedere, Community Support Services were received. There was some discussion moving forward with our Governance Committee and succession planning. We bid farewell to Ted Knight who has been one of two provincial representatives on the board for a number of years as he resigns and we thank him sincerely for his service and dedication over this time. Following his resignation as Councillor in McKellar, Don Carmichael has had to step down from our board. The board is hopeful he can rejoin as the second Provincial Appointee. Minutes from the Long Term Care Ad-Hoc Committee meetings held June 30, July 14 and August 11 were presented. There was more talk of Campus of Care, including a business plan and the integration of Community Support Services into this model. Other reports received were from our Board Chair and CEO. We were brought up to date on news of proposed amendments to the Long-term Care Homes Act, 2007.
Thank you to Area Businesses
Following on the heals of Councillor Burden's report this evening, I would like to speak to something that we are all too familiar with. Every business that we have been into this summer has been suffering from a shortage of manpower. Restaurants, retail stores, service companies and even the Town of Parry Sound have all found it difficult to find workers this past summer. I want to extend a big thank you to those businesses that have persevered. It's been a very busy summer. The Town Dock has been busy, as well as downtown, and certainly the highways have been burdened with heavy traffic. There have been many people around this year and it is encouraging to see people out and about and visiting our area once again.
Tribute to Tom Mangos
I would like to take this time to pay tribute to a friend and colleague, Tom Mangos, reporter and journalist, most recently of RadioWorkz Parry Sound, who died on August 17, 2021 in his home. His death came as a huge shock to family and friends. He was only 61 years of age. Tom had not been well, but always seemed to bounce back. Certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Tom's last news story was posted August 10. Tom came to Parry Sound in November of 2017 to work as News Director at Moose FM. Eventually Tom moved on launching RadioWorkz Parry Sound. His reporting was articulate, thorough and never sensational. Being his own boss he was able to inject as much local news as he wanted and it showed. As a reporter and a friend he will be missed. A private family service was held at Pine Hills Cemetery and Funeral Centre in Scarborough.