(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / casanowe)(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / casanowe)
Chatham

CK councillors to vote on vaccine policy

A vaccine policy for Chatham-Kent council and committee members is up for discussion on Monday night, this as the municipality announces it's introduced a vaccine policy of its own for employees.

During the September 27 council meeting, councillors directed municipal administration to prepare a draft COVID-19 vaccination policy for members of council and board members.

On Monday night, administration will return to council with the draft policy, which it is recommending be approved.

"Administration’s current recommendation is to adopt a vaccination and testing policy that addresses member and staff safety," the staff report stated. "This draft policy is based on current circumstances and with an effort to provide options for member attendance at municipal properties for the purposes of conducting activity associated with their duties, including meeting participation. As this matter evolves, changes to this policy may be recommended."

According to the report, the draft policy would require councillors to be "fully vaccinated to attend municipal sites for the purposes of fulfilling their duties." The policy would also apply for anyone appointed to council committees or who sits on a local board, which is defined as "a municipal service board, transportation commission, public library board, board of health, police services board, planning board, a conservation authority, or any other board, commission, committee, body or local authority established or exercising any power under any act with respect to the affairs or purposes of one or more municipalities."

If approved, councillors and board members must provide proof of vaccination by October 18.

"Unvaccinated members will only be allowed to access municipal property if they submit a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours prior to any activity associated with the fulfilling of their duties, including the resumption of in-person meetings," read the draft policy. "Tests will be required to be taken on the member’s own time and at their own cost."

Members are not required to get vaccinated if they provide an exemption under a protected ground of the Ontario Human Rights Code. According to the staff report, exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

"If approved, they will be connected with the appropriate resources to develop a reasonable and appropriate accommodation plan that provides alternative health and safety measures. If the member is required to access municipal property, this plan may include a requirement to submit to ongoing testing starting October 19, 2021."

Any members who remain unvaccinated without an approved exemption or a negative test will not be allowed to access the municipal property for any activities related to fulfilling their duties or take their seat at in-person meetings.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent announced on Friday that it has implemented its own COVID-19 vaccination verification and testing policy for staff and volunteers.

According to a media release by the municipality, the policy will require employees and volunteers to declare their vaccination status no later than October 18.

Similar to the proposed policy for council, the municipality's policy will make testing mandatory for all Municipality of Chatham-Kent employees and volunteers who are not fully vaccinated and exceptions will only be made for exemptions approved under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

"We are hopeful that our new vaccination verification and testing policy will ensure the continued safety of our employees, their families, and the citizens we serve," said Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire. "We continue to encourage all of our employees to get fully vaccinated. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent needs to be a leader in the community promoting vaccination. Our Public Health team has been promoting vaccinations as an essential component in our overall plan to safeguard our community against the pandemic. We need to support them.”

According to the media release, visitors and patrons of municipal facilities will continue to follow provincial guidelines, some that are included in the provincial vaccination certification program.

 

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