HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-02-16, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017. PAGE 11.
Central Huron to vote to dissolve ward system
Continued from page 1
council voted to completely abolish
the ward system, meaning that the
municipality's mayor, deputy -mayor
and six councillors could all come
from anywhere in the municipality.
Several councillors, including
Alex Westerhout, said that after the
election, he came face-to-face with
the fact that Central Huron Council
was essentially elected at -large due
to the rules in the Municipal Act that
allow residents to run for seats that
do not necessarily serve their home
ward.
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What an effort!
Bob Kellington, a member of the Brussels Lions Club and of the Brussels United Church
congregation, organized another in a series of fundraising luncheons to benefit the Canadian
Foodgrains Bank on Sunday, which raised approximately $2,000 for the cause, which includes
donations from the congregation, donations from the lunch, private donations and this $250
cheque from the Lions Club. All funds will be matched by the federal government on a 4:1
basis, meaning that the $2,000 raised will be quadrupled for the cause. From left: Jean
Davidson, Janet Haertel, Neil McGavin, Bob Kellington, Neil Mitchell, Mel McCutcheon, Frank
Workman, Food Grains Bank representative Jean Bennett, Louise Porter and Brian Keller.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
Majestic WI donates to HEFD
Making a difference
Members of the Majestic Women's Institute in Brussels participated in the organization's
Blankets, Bears and Books project, which was initiated to commemorate the 120th
anniversary of the Women's Institute and have now donated the fruits of their labour to benefit
both the Brussels and Grey divisions of the Huron East Fire Department. From left: Marie
McCutcheon, Janet Haertel, Lucy Hesse, Kathy Bridge, Elfriede Klaassen, Yvonne Knight and
Leona Armstrong. (Photo submitted)
The February meeting of the
Majestic Women's Institute took on
an atmosphere of a party. They were
celebrating the 120th anniversary of
Women's Institute, Canada's 150th
anniversary and National Flag Day.
All members participated in the
Blankets, Bears and Books project
commemorating the 120th
anniversary of WI.
The Federated Women's Institute
of Ontario is a not-for-profit
charitable organization with
affiliations around the world,
working with and for women in rural
and small town Ontario.
In 1897, Adelaide Hoodless was
invited by Erland Lee to speak at a
Farmer's Institute ladies night in
Stoney Creek, Ontario where she
suggested the formation of an
organization for rural women.
The next week, Feb. 19, 1897, the
first formal organization of a
Women's Institute took place in
Saltfleet Township. The original
branch is now known as the Stoney
Creek Charter Women's Institute.
The Branch is the basic building
block from which the Women's
Institute has grown since its
inception in 1897.
President Yvonne Knight opened
the meeting with a verse from a
valentine she received. The Institute
Ode was sung followed by repeating
the Mary Stewart Collect. Secretary
Leona Armstrong read the minutes
of the January meeting and
correspondence from Viola Adams,
Edna Pletch and Margaret Mclnroy.
Kathy Bridge distributed the
February newsletter which included
Marie McCutcheon's treasurer's
report. It was decided to give a
donation to the Huron -Perth
Agriculture and Water Festival in
Seaforth. Yvonne Knight handed out
volunteer sheets to be filled out by
members if they will be working at
the International Plowing Match in
Walton this September. Collections
were taken for Coins for Friendship
Continued on page 15
Westerhout said that because of
the rules dictated by the Municipal
Act, Central Huron is essentially a
"de -facto at -large municipality
anyway". He did suggest, however,
that council should seek public input
on the issue.
Council voted to direct staff to
draft a bylaw to dissolve the ward
system, but has not finally approved
the change. The bylaw will be up for
final debate at council's first meeting
in March.
In Central Huron's 2014 election,
several residents of the East Ward
ran in the West Ward where few
people had declared. Genny Smith
won the position, but then resigned.
The West Ward seat is now held by
Adam Robinson, a resident of the
East Ward.
Some councillors, however,
protested the move despite the
Municipal Act loophole.
"I'm definitely not in favour of
this," said East Ward Councillor
Marg Anderson, who added that
with the ward system, community
members may know their elected
representative as a neighbour or
fellow community member and feel
comfortable in approaching them to
discuss an issue. If all members were
elected at -large and didn't live in the
community, she said, residents may
not have that comfort level.
Anderson also said she had been
approached by several residents of
the East Ward in the Londesborough
area who were not in favour of the
shift and felt their community
wouldn't be represented under the
proposed system.
"Some feel they will have no
representation," Anderson said of the
new proposed system.
Councillor Alison Lobb agreed,
saying that the ward system ensured
that all residents would be
represented by their councillors.
"The ward system guarantees
representation in each ward and I
think that's important to feel that
level of representation," Lobb said.
Councillor Burkhard Metzger
spoke in favour of the change,
saying that with amalgamation, it's
no longer about wards, but about the
entire municipality.
When issues are discussed by
council, all councillors vote on all
issues, he said, so the voting system
should reflect that municipal
approach.
Council then voted in favour of
directing staff to draft a bylaw that
will dissolve the ward system. In the
meantime, staff may post the
question on its website, seeking
public input ahead of the March 6
meeting of council where the bylaw
will officially be considered.
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