A new well-being advisory committee is being set up in Meaford.
The municipality’s committee of the whole passed a recommendation during its meeting on Nov. 1 to establish the committee and appoint a member of council to sit on it.
This comes after Meaford previously adopted the Community Safety and Well-being Plan in September, and is aiming to appoint members to the committee for the remainder of the 2018-2022 term of council.
The mandate of the new committee dictates it will advise and assist council and staff on matters related to community safety, health and well-being within the municipality, and using the well-being plan as a framework for prioritizing and making recommendations.
The committee would also promote continuous check-ins with front line participants who are dealing with mental health, substance use, housing, financial insecurity, local crime, and other concerns.
The committee will also play a role in advising council on the community policing needs of the municipality, and recommendations would be made to Meaford on the Grey Bruce OPP Detachment Police Services Board on policing priorities in the area.
“By developing a Well-being Advisory Committee, the municipality will bring together community partners in various sectors, and maintain communications currently dealt with under the scope of the Community Policing Advisory Committee (CPAC) between the public and the OPP detachment,” the staff report says.
Staff recommended the committee be made up of representatives of key service sectors within the municipality as well as residents, ensuring Meaford’s partners in the well-being projects are sitting at the table and are able to give their thoughts during the process.
This new committee will replace the existing CPAC and Well-being Statutory Advisory Committee, as it was only needed during the plan development process.
The adopted well-being plan, features 30 action items from across six main areas of focus, which include foundations of well-being, mental health and addictions, poverty and income, crime prevention, supports and programs for youth, and supports and programs for seniors.
The new committee will serve achieve one of the 30 items identified in the well-being plan, as it will play a role in advising staff on the implementation of the plan, and assist with communicating new initiatives to community.
Coun. Harley Greenfield voiced his concern during the meeting on how the new committee would operate while there was already an existing Accessibility committee.
Speaking with the Deputy Clerk and CAO, he was assured it would work out.
“They both assured me that there would be room for both committees in the future, and room for both collaboration and cooperation and support between the two committees,” says Greenfield.
