DAN CEARNS The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: The newly formed Haliburton, Kawartha, Northumberland, Peterborough health unit (HKNP) took their first steps to setting up their future recently.
The very first board meeting of the merged health unit was held on Thursday, January 2nd. The merger includes members of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH). The two units officially merged on Wednesday, January 1st. Kawartha Lakes representation on the board includes councillors Tracy Richardson and Dan Joyce.
As their first act of the meeting, members voted for who would be the first Chair and Vice Chair of the new board. Two members put their names forward for the Chair position, one member from each of the merged entities. Cecil Ryall of Haliburton County and Ron Black from the Township of Selwyn were the ones who put their names forward. Mr. Black was elected as the Chair with Mr. Ryall becoming the Vice Chair.
“I greatly appreciate the support and confidence which the board has put in both of us,” Mr. Black said. “We’re going to be a great team. From my perspective, I couldn’t have a better co-leader here.”
Mr. Ryall, after the vote, said “I just see us as a team.”
“We’ve spoken to each other where we’ve agreed, we’ve agreed to disagree and we’ve come to a commitment point where we both said this needs to go forward and we need to do what we need to do. I am so thankful I ended up pairing with [Ron Black] on this thing. I think [his] leadership is going to be awesome,” he added.
The board then approved a number of bylaws for the organization, including: Management of property, Banking and financing, Calling of and proceedings at meetings, Appointment of an auditor and Duties of Officers and Management of the Board of Health.
The board also set the terms of reference for their Indigenous Health Advisory Circle and their Stewardship Committee.
However, a decision on setting a meeting schedule was deferred until the board’s next January meeting.
Comments