East Ferris’ municipal workers to be fully vaccinated by November 15

East Ferris unveiled a vaccination policy that applies to all municipal workers—full-time, part-time, temporary, casual, contract, volunteers, students, and contractors performing work in municipal facilities are all subject to the policy.

Whether or not an employee works from home or not, the policy applies.

The policy also covers members of the East Ferris Fire Department, members of council, and members of council appointed committees.

What is a municipal employee to do? The policy requires a declaration form regarding one’s Covid-19 vaccination status be submitted to the municipality by Monday, October 18.

All municipal employees will receive a memo from the chief administrative officer, Jason Trottier, which will include the form.

This form asks whether you are fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated (provide a copy of first vaccination receipt) and confirm you will provide proof of a second dose.

Respondents can also check the box indicating they are not vaccinated and are requesting an accommodation or exemption “due to a bona fide exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code or for a medical reason.”

See: Municipally mandated employee vaccination policy takes effect

These requests will be reviewed by Trottier, and submission of the form does not “constitute acceptance of the accommodation or exemption,” the CAO explains.

The final option makes clear the respondent is “not vaccinated and do not intend to be vaccinated.”

Note that “this option requires the employee to request an unpaid leave or use of paid banked time or vacation credits.”

Once that form is submitted to the CAO, the next step—for those planning on becoming fully vaccinated—is to achieve that plan by mid-November.

The municipality has set November 15 as the deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated.

“The purpose of the policy is to protect the public and our staff,” Trottier said.  “It will be a key policy to help return to some sort of normalcy in the workplace,” he added.

Trottier also mentioned that most municipal employees are vaccinated, “so I don’t think we’re going to have a lot of issues” arising from this policy.

David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.