Merger Wednesday to form South East Health Unit

The South East Health Unit is now a reality, bringing together three eastern health units into one Kingston-based organization.

 

Staff and board members met online Wednesday afternoon for the inaugural meeting. The agenda was a slim one, focusing on the election of chair and vice-chair, appointment of medical officers, and other procedural matters. The meeting had not ended as of press time.

The new unit combines Hastings Prince Edward Public Health; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health; and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. All voted in early December to merge voluntarily.

“Partners and members of the public should continue to engage with their local public health offices as usual until otherwise directed,” reads a statement from the unit.

On the board are: Kingston Couns. Conny Glenn and Jeff McLaren, Frontenac County Coun. Judy Greenwood-Speers, Lennox and Addington Warden Nathan Townend, Lanark County Reeve Richard Kidd, Leeds and Grenville Mayor Robin Jones, Smiths Falls Coun. Peter McKenna, Gananoque Coun. Anne-Marie Koiner, Belleville Coun. Sean Kelly, Prince Edward County Coun. Bill Roberts, Hastings County Coun. Mayor Jan O’Neill (the mayor of Marmora and Lake), and Quinte West Coun. Michael Kotsovos.

The two representatives for Brockville, Smiths Falls, Gananoque, and Prescott were appointed jointly by the four municipalities.

 

Provincial appointees to the board had not been confirmed as of press time.

 

Hastings-Prince Edward’s board chair, Jan O’Neill, said she is not concerned about there being less local representation.

The board will have four municipal representatives from each of the three previous health units’ areas. It’s a reduction of 50 per cent.