Written By David Gomez
MIDDLESEX COUNTY – County council has approved updates to both its employee support services and the final phase of renovations at the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) Waterloo Street facility, following discussions at its March 24 meeting.
The first item focused on the County’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), where staff recommended transitioning to a new provider in an effort to modernize services, particularly in the area of mental health support.
The proposed provider, Homewood Health, offers expanded services including a digital health platform, mobile application and online tools aimed at improving accessibility. The program would also extend to Middlesex-London Paramedic Service employees, a move intended to “increase purchasing power and promote alignment across the county and its partners,” Director of Human Resources Sandra Schulz said, while presenting the report.
Council heard that the new agreement would reduce costs while expanding services. The proposed rate of $3.70 per employee per month represents a combined annual savings of approximately $25,150 for the County and MLPS. The contract, if finalized, will run for three years beginning July 1, 2026. With no questions raised, council approved the recommendation.
Council then turned its attention to Phase 3 of renovations at the MLPS Waterloo Street base in London. Deputy CAO and County Engineer Chris Traini said the final phase would complete upgrades to the building’s exterior, including window replacements, lighting improvements and façade enhancements.
Traini noted the project has progressed under budget, with total costs for all phases remaining significantly below initial estimates. “We are quite pleased with regards to the costing of this coming in well below the initial estimates,” he said, adding that earlier phases benefited from competitive market conditions.
The final phase, estimated at approximately $385,000, is expected to address energy efficiency, security concerns and the overall condition of the building exterior. Traini described the work as “the cap off” to the broader project, which has already included interior renovations to improve staff spaces and accessibility.
Councillors highlighted both the financial outcome and the impact of the upgrades. Councillor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson noted that once complete, “people won’t recognize the building when it’s done. They’ll think it’s a new building,” while others pointed to the importance of maintaining infrastructure that supports frontline paramedic services.
With no further questions, council approved the Phase 3 renovations, allowing work to proceed and complete the multi-phase project.
