Southeast Public Health Board Passes Motion to Reconsider Closing Satellite Offices

Press Release – Southeast Public Health

The Southeast Public Health (SEPH) Board of Health met November 26 in Kingston for their regular monthly meeting. The agenda package is available online.

Leased office locations

The Board passed a motion that Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza reconsider the operational decision to close the leased offices in Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, Napanee, Perth, Picton and Trenton; and provide a report at the December 17, 2025 Board meeting outlining the criteria that was used to make this decision.

The briefing note included in the agenda package (Schedule 9.1) outlines the background information related to the decision to close the leased offices. The decision was made in careful consideration of financial realities, service utilization patterns, and opportunities to modernize service delivery across the southeast region. By reinvesting resources and redesigning rural service models, Southeast Public Health is positioning itself to continue delivering core public health services effectively and sustainably.

In making the decision, a comprehensive assessment of Southeast Public Health office locations, service usage, and occupancy costs was undertaken. Community needs, evolution of service delivery models, and workforce preservation were also evaluated. The findings from this assessment indicated that several leased office locations were being underutilized, and that cost savings from terminating these leases could be reinvested back into the agency to fund innovative and effective ways of offering programs and services. This approach will protect core public health programs and services while enhancing the long-term sustainability of our agency.

Cloyne office update

The Board carried a motion to defer a decision on the staff recommendation to declare the Cloyne office property surplus and sell it.

As detailed in the memo provided to the Board (Schedule 8.1) the configuration of the Cloyne office, formerly a residential home, has no public health clinics delivered from the site and the closure will not affect public health operations or the delivery of programs and services in the area. Southeast Public Health has developed strong relationships in the Cloyne community to assist in offering our programs and services, and currently offers public health programs and services in various partner locations, at events, and in client homes.

Southeast Public Health will continue to use data driven methods and predictive models to implement effective programs and services to our rural populations.

Merger updates

A progress update on merger activities was provided to the Board. The activities include, but are not limited to:

• Transition of staff into their new teams supported by a plan to prepare for and assist with the change.
• Work on the development of a fully-functional Southeast Public Health website that will have more harmonized program/service content and functionality.
• Harmonization of 14 medical directives (the formal documents that outline specific tasks, procedures and clinical activities that health-care professionals are authorized to perform without the need for direct physician assessment at the time of implementation).
• Completion of the third quarter change readiness assessment, which saw a staff participation rate increase of over 10 percent. The results will be used to identify actions that can be taken by leadership to address challenges identified by staff.
• Harmonization of the payroll schedule with transition planned for February 2026.
• Establishment of a policy review process resulting in the harmonization of over 25 policies.
• An inaugural All Staff Day to build relationships within the new teams and recognize long-serving staff.