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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 1, 2023 - Special Council Special Council Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 pm Present: Mayor Kevin Ashe Councillors: M. Brenner L. Cook M. Nagy D. Pickles L. Robinson Absent: S. Butt Also Present: M. Carpino -Chief Administrative Officer K. Bentley -Director, City Development & CBO P. Bigioni -Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor S. Cassel -City Clerk C. Rose -Chief Planner N. Surti -Manager, Development Review & Urban Design R. Perera -Deputy Clerk 1.Roll Call The City Clerk certified that all Members of Council were present and participating in- person, save and except Councillor Butt. 2.Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 3.Delegations 3.1 Catherine Parkes, Clarington Resident Minister’s Zoning Order Request -Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care) -1955 Valley Farm Road Catherine Parkes, Clarington Resident, appeared before Council to speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. She stated that her father was a resident of Orchard Villa who had passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. She detailed an incident in March 2020, prior to Orchard Villa closing Special Council Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 pm its doors to visitors due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where her father was taken to Lakeridge Health Hospital due to numerous failed attempts of administering a catheter by a Personal Support Worker (PSW ) at Orchard Villa. She stated that earlier during the same day, she had visited her father and discovered that he had not been given food and was in pain due to failed attempts of inserting a catheter by a PSW. Ms. Parkes noted that she had requested that a nurse administer the catheter instead, however, this did not occur and her father was later taken to Lakeridge Health Hospital due to the high level of pain he was experiencing. She stated that it only took a few minutes for the nurses at the Lakeridge Health Hospital to administer the catheter, and noted that as Orchard Villa had forgotten to send a wheelchair for her father, he was left waiting at Lakeridge Health for 12 hours without any food as the transport ambulances were unavailable. She stated that her father was only a resident at Orchard Villa for six months, and noted other incidents where her father was not given food for multiple days during his time there. Ms. Parkes spoke to the MZO request and referred to Section 101.e) of the Fixing Long-Term Care Act which accounts for the consideration of past conduct of an institution when issuing new licenses and stated that Southbridge Care Homes did not meet this requirement to receive new licenses. She stated that the publicly available recent incident reports for Orchard Villa illustrated that nothing had been learned or gained from what had transpired during the pandemic. In conclusion, Ms. Parkes asked that the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing and Council decline the MZO. A brief question and answer period ensued between Members of Council and Ms. Parkes regarding: •whether Southbridge Care Homes was seeking MZOs to expand their locations in other municipalities; and, •whether there were any current investigations underway pertaining to Orchard Villa. 3.2 June Morrison, Pickering Resident Minister’s Zoning Order Request -Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care) -1955 Valley Farm Road June Morrison, Pickering Resident, joined the meeting via audio connection to speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. She noted that she was at the forefront of advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic as it related to the care of elders and briefly discussed the findings of the military report that was conducted on Orchard Villa. Ms. Morrison noted that her father was a victim of COVID-19 while residing in Orchard Villa and May 3rd of this year marked the third anniversary of his passing. She noted that his death left her devastated as she knew that he had suffered more than he needed to. She added that soon the baby boomer population would be in need of temporary or long-term Special Council Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 pm housing with elder care programs, and stated that she would like the government to implement a program similar to the paid family caregiver program being offered by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Ms. Morrison spoke to issues surrounding the handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Orchard Villa including the loss of resident’s rights to leave the property and forced dining arrangements which effected the mental well-being of residents. She also spoke to numerous incidents where her father had not eaten for days and that Orchard Villa had failed to hospitalize him. Ms. Morrison referred to the letter submitted by Dr. Patricia Spindel to the City of Pickering and noted that seniors deserved better options than the ones being offered by the Ministry of Long-term Care or Southbridge Care Homes. She further added that given all the reports that were conducted on Orchard Villa, Southbridge Care Homes had not yet attempted to rectify the issues through a public report and discussed the need for the Minister of Long-Term Care to engage the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing to advocate for the refusal of this MZO. In concluding her delegation, she stated her opposition to the MZO. A brief question and answer period ensued between Members of Council and Ms. Morrison regarding the recommendations of the independent commissioner’s report that was conducted on Orchard Villa during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 3.3 Abdullah Mir, Pickering Resident Minister’s Zoning Order Request -Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care) -1955 Valley Farm Road Abdullah Mir, Pickering Resident, appeared before Council to speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. Mr. Mir stated that 78 people had passed away while residing in Orchard Villa due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which had altered the lives of their loved ones. He stated that it was evident that profits mattered to Southbridge Care Homes more than the wellbeing of their residents and noted that that they were now seeking to expand their facility with little evidence that they would prioritize the residents over profits. He commented that MZOs were not democratic as they overrode the decision-making powers of Pickering City Council. Mr. Mir spoke to the need for more long-term care homes in the community where there is respect and the highest level of care provided to the residents facilitated in a community-oriented manner. In concluding his delegation, he asked Council to refuse the MZO. 3.4 Caroline Wells, Families of Orchard Villa LTCH Pickering Minister’s Zoning Order Request -Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care) 1955 Valley Farm Road Caroline Wells, Families of Orchard Villa LTCH Pickering, appeared before Council to speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Special Council Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 pm Homes. Ms. Wells stated that her father had passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic while residing at Orchard Villa and that she was not made aware that he had tested positive for COVID-19 or that his condition had deteriorated. She spoke to numerous medical incidents experienced by her father while residing at Orchard Villa including numerous falls, cases of sepsis, one that led to kidney failure as he was not sent to a hospital for medical care. She spoke to abuse allegations and that they were not investigated by Orchard Villa. Ms. Wells stated that she did not believe Orchard Villa should receive an MZO and referred to findings of incident reports relating to falls, temperature controls, and abuse allegations. She stated that they did not have adequate plans in place to assure the wellbeing of their residents during an emergency and noted that long-term care homes were required to have an individual plan for each resident. In concluding her delegation, she noted that it was apparent that nothing had changed and that she hoped the MZO was not passed. 4.Matters for Consideration 4.1 Minister’s Zoning Order Request -Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care) 1955 Valley Farm Road A discussion period ensued between Members of Council regarding: •the inadequate timeframe provided by the Province of three days for the City to provide a response by April 27, 2023; •the lack of evidence that consultation with the community or the families of the residents of Orchard Villa had been conducted; •the Ministry not following normal City process in requesting comment from the City as stated in CAO Correspondence 35-23 attached to the meeting agenda; •lack of time or ability for a detailed planning review to be conducted; and, •the proposed development not meeting the character of the existing community. Resolution #181/23 Moved by Councillor Pickles Seconded by Councillor Brenner 1.That the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the City of Pickering cannot support the consideration of granting a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) at 1955 Valley Farm Road as the families of Orchard Villa Retirement Community and the surrounding neighbourhood have not been adequately consulted, and the impacts of the development with Special Council Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 pm respect to traffic, parking, municipal infrastructure, and compatibility with the existing neighbourhood have not been adequately evaluated; and, 2.That a copy of this resolution be sent to The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care, MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, all Durham MPPs, Leader of the Opposition Party, and the Leader of the Third Party. Carried Unanimously on a Recorded Vote 4.Confirmation By-law By-law Number 8011/23 Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Nagy moved for leave to introduce a By-law of the City of Pickering to confirm the proceedings of May 1, 2023. Carried 5.Adjournment Moved by Councillor Nagy Seconded by Councillor Cook That the meeting be adjourned. Carried The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Dated this 1st of May, 2023. Kevin Ashe, Mayor Susan Cassel, City Clerk Original Signed By Original Signed By