200506 COVID-19 Task Force MINThe Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
COVID-19 Task Force Meeting
May 6, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Electronic Meeting
MINUTES
Present: Abbie Boesterd, Karen Devolin, Emma Dew, Joe McGuire, Councillor Deb
Gilvesy, Councillor Chris Rosehart, Merley Wheaton, Roxanne MacMillan, Deputy
Mayor Beres, Larry Scanlan
Staff: Colleen Pepper, Marketing & Communications Officer; Michelle Smibert, Clerk;
Laura Pickersgill, Legislative Services Coordinator
1. Roll Call
2. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m.
3. Adoption of Agenda
Resolution #1
Moved by: Karen Devolin
Seconded by: Larry Scanlan
THAT the Agenda as prepared for the COVID-19 Task Force meeting of May 6,
2020, be adopted.
Carried
4. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Resolution #2
Moved by: Larry Scanlan
Seconded by: Abbie Boesterd
THAT the Minutes as prepared for the COVID-19 Task Force meeting of April 29,
2020, be adopted.
Carried
5. Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest declared.
6. General Business & Reports
6.1 Communications
6.1.1 Social Media Discussion
Concern was noted that there are social media pages being misrepresented as
affiliates with the Town of Tillsonburg. Councillor Gilvesy will reach out to the pages
moderator to ask that the Town of Tillsonburg be permitted to comment and provide
factual information to users. It was suggested that task force members can help
moderate comments on these community pages and direct users to the appropriate
sources to retain factual information. It was suggested that a short video be
developed to make the public aware of what initiatives the task force is working on.
The importance of sharing information to many channels is critical to ensuring all or
most demographics of the Tillsonburg population are being reached.
Recommendations from the previous meeting will be brought before Council at the
May 11, 2020 meeting. Members were encouraged to direct inquiries to
covid-19@tillsonburg.ca.
Colleen Pepper shared information on a different model on providing information
based on her power point presentation. The “BOB” approach connects people with
best information in bite-sized chunks. Members agreed that this would be a
recommended approach. This approach would allow for a reduction in larger daily
bulletins and would incur more frequent, smaller bits of information posted
throughout the day on various channels.
It was suggested that the task force agendas and minutes be posted publicly.
Importance was noted on ensuring users are directed back to the direct source of
information. The Mayor will be addressing questions during his live Facebook
update. It was suggested that a question and answer section be added onto the
Town’s Facebook page.
6.1.2 Did You Know Series
The Committee noted their frustration with the existing information on the daily
bulletins and the website and recommended that smaller more frequent pieces of
information be provided throughout the day that pertain largely to local initiatives and
concerns on social media.
It was noted that there are more avenues for providing information to be utilized
such as: the radio, local newspaper, communicating to the local secondary school
guidance officer, etc. Concern was raised that if posts are done throughout the day
people may miss the information rather than if it were too come all at once at an
expected time. It was suggested that questions and answers provided during the
Mayor’s live update be posted publicly for reference. Users who are on social media
are encouraged to take screenshots of information posted and provide it to those
who are not using the Internet.
6.1.3 Town Services Missing
The Tillsonburg Transfer Station will open shortly and more information is to come
available.
It was noted that the number of people being tested within the jurisdiction of
Southwestern Public Health is less than 2% at this time. It was noted that there is a
new blood test available for front line workers to test for antibodies.
Discussion was held regarding the lack of testing centres in Tillsonburg whereas
neighbouring communities do have closer access to them. Tillsonburg could be at a
disadvantage due to the location of the Town being at the edge of Oxford County.
The OPP recently got approval to be tested as part of the frontline workers.
Paramedics have been trained to perform the testing. Councillor Gilvesy will follow
up to determine if the Tillsonburg Fire Department members will be eligible for
testing as frontline workers.
Resolution #3
Moved by: Deputy Mayor Beres
Seconded by: Karen Devolin
WHEREAS THAT the Town of Tillsonburg has a larger percentage of retirement age
residents than most Ontario Communities , it is recommended that Council requests
the Province through the Southwestern Public Health Unit to set up a public COVID-
19 testing clinic in the Town as soon as possible.
Carried
6.1.4 Trail and Park Opening Clarification
Laura Pickersgill provided an update that Cadman Park is closed as it operates
under the Long Point Region Conservation Authority but that Coronation Park
remains open. It was noted that all outdoor amenities, such as benches, disc golf
course, tables, and playground equipment remain closed as per the Provincial
orders.
6.2 Circulate Local Company Announcements
It was suggested that these materials could be shared as part of the bite sized
information shared on social media with links back to the source’s website.
Councillor Gilvesy will let the task force know when the first post on this will occur.
6.3 Mental Health
6.4 Volunteer Outreach Group Discussion
Karen Devolin is gathering information on Volunteer Outreach and will provide an
update at a future meeting. It was noted that volunteers are in short supply right
now as many volunteers are the higher risk population that are required to stay
home. It was noted that community groups receiving funding from agencies must
ensure they are following the agencies’ procedures. An example provided would be
that groups must be using volunteers with completed vulnerable persons sector
checks. If these groups do not follow the rules, they could suffer repercussions of
not receiving funding from the agencies or even that the agency could reap legal
consequences.
Larry Scanlan will reach out to the Oxford County OPP Commander to determine if
vulnerable sector checks could be made available in these situations as the OPP are
only providing this service for emergencies currently. It was noted that volunteers
may or may not be allowed to use vulnerable person sector checks done prior to the
pandemic and that it would be the decision of the group the person is volunteering
for to accept the older check or not.
6.5 Personal Protective Equipment Donation Campaign
Roxanne MacMillan indicated that many health care providers are in short supply of
Personal Protective Equipment. It was noted that larger providers have an easier
time procuring these resources whereas smaller, private providers and retirement
homes have more difficulty doing so and are in even shorter supply. The Town’s
Economic Development Department is compiling a list of companies offering PPE
and that this list could be shared in the future to businesses.
It was suggested that information on the Oxford County PPE Donation Campaign
could be shared again on our various channels. Questions on requesting or
donating supplies can be directed to 1-800-755-0394 ext. 3550. Abbie Boesterd will
provide information to Colleen with the direct website link for the campaign.
7. Round Table
To date, there have been 38 complaints Town wide, or 110 complaints County wide
to the OPP of concerns related to social distancing and groups larger than five.
8. Next Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
9. Adjournment
Resolution #4
Moved by: Karen Devolin
Seconded by: Joe McGuire
THAT the May 6, 2020 COVID-19 Task Force meeting be adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
Carried