The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has gone with a Windsor city councillor as its next board chairman.
During its first meeting in 2023 Thursday afternoon, the health unit board named Ward 2 Councillor Fabio Costante as its next board chair, succeeding long-time Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara. Costante was the sole nominee for the position and was acclaimed.
"It's certainly an honour to have been nominated and elected chair," Costante said after the election. "I recognize I have big shoes to fill, but I really look forward to working with what will be the upcoming board as a whole, our CEO, our Medical Officer of Health, and of course, our senior management team."
Costante is in his second term on City Council and was previously one of the City of Windsor's representatives on the health unit board.
The board members then nominated Tecumseh Deputy Mayor and Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti as vice-chair. He was also acclaimed. County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald was then acclaimed as board treasurer.
Named to the project governance committee, whose top priority is finding a new home for the health unit after the lease on its Windsor headquarters expires, were Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley and Windsor Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino.
Costante and Agostino are joined on the board this term by City Council colleagues Fred Francis and Angelo Marignani. Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue is the county's fourth representative. Judy Lund and Robert Maich remain as provincial representatives.