HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-14, Page 1INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
AWARD - Pg. 11
Blyth man awarded
posthumously
CHURCH - Pg. 17
Huron Chapel welcomes
Dow as associate pastor
STUDENT - Pg. 18
Brussels area's Smiths
welcome exchange student
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Volume 33 No. 49
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Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 14, 2017
Do Iplay hockey?
The students at North Woods Elementary School near
Ethel were in great singing voice on Monday as they held
the dress rehearsal for this year's Christmas concert,
entitled "Slapshot Santa Scores Again!" Students from
Kindergarten up to Grade 6 were in costume and had been
practising for weeks ahead of the concert, all in hopes of
putting on a good show for their parents, friends and loved ones.
Here, the Grade 5/6 class presented the number "Do I Play
Hockey?" near the middle of the story. Students here, each
holding up a teaching tool about Canada's favourite sport, are,
from left: Camryn Logan, Agatha Wall, Hudson McNevan, Tyler
Wick and Sam McArter. (Denny Scott photo)
Funding
decreases
yet again
Huron East's Ontario Municipal
Partnership Fund (OMPF) allocation
has been slashed again and
Treasurer Paula Michiels doesn't
anticipate a change.
Next year, the municipality will
receive $231,000 less than it did last
year, the equivalent of a 5.7 per cent
increase to the general municipal
levy in order to cover the loss.
Michiels said she anticipates
similar cuts in the next two or three
years. The 2018 cut represents a
13.35 per cent decrease in funding
compared to 2017 levels.
Morris-Turnberry slightly edged
out Huron East in terms of the
largest cut with 13.49 per cent, but
by far Huron East saw the largest cut
in terms of dollars.
In 2018, Huron East will be
receiving just under $1.5 million in
OMPF money from the provincial
government. The municipality's
assistance has declined drastically
from its peak of $3.154 million and
it's now well below its 2001 funding
level of $2.365 million.
Michiels said that Huron East's
2018 allocation from the Ontario
Community Infrastructure Funding
is set to increase by $83,458.
The combined impact of the two
funding allocations, Michiels said,
results in a $147,542 impact on the
budget, which would require an
increase to the levy of 3.6 per cent.
FDNH personnel return after mass resignation
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Order has been restored and
Fire Department of North Huron
(FDNH) personnel are back on the
job after a tumultuous five days and
a special meeting of North Huron
Council Monday night at the
Emergency Services Training
Centre.
This comes after a staff meeting
last Thursday, which saw Deputy -
Chiefs Matt Townsend and Chad
Kregar and eight captains resign and
the rest of the department walk out
in solidarity.
While the majority of Monday
night's meeting was closed to the
public, all members of the
department were asked by council to
be a part of it. The department's
Fire Department of North Huron
personnel collectively resign on Dec. 7
stance was communicated by way of
an impassioned speech by Captain
Jeff Howson.
It should be noted, however, that
while FDNH personnel had verbally
resigned from their positions, they
still responded to two emergency
calls during that time, ensuring the
community was protected.
Once in open session, council
passed three motions, returning
Acting Director of Fire Services/Fire
Chief Mark Alderman to his post at
the Training Centre and enacting
legislation from a 2009 bylaw that
appointed Deputy -Chiefs Matt
Townsend (Blyth) and Chad Kregar
(Wingham) as co -Acting Directors
of Fire Services/Fire Chiefs by
default. Council also passed a
motion stating that FDNH personnel
would be actively involved in the
hiring of the next chief.
Chief Administrative Officer
Dwayne Evans explained the
2009 bylaw, saying that it
defaulted duties to deputy -chiefs in
the event that the fire chief
resigned, so no appointment
was necessary if council was to
look to that bylaw in the first place.
Howson said that when he spoke
to council, it was important to
communicate that what the
department was doing was being
done in the best interests of the
North Huron community. He said he
felt the message was heard loud and
clear by council Monday night.
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday
night, the Township of North Huron
issued the following statement:
"The Township of North Huron
and the Fire Department of North
Huron are pleased to announce that
outstanding issues have been
resolved. Effective immediately, the
Fire Department of North Huron
will resume full emergency services
and the Township of North Huron
has committed to engage the Fire
Department of North Huron in
future discussions related to the fire
department.
"The Township of North Huron
also wishes to announce that
Deputy -Chiefs Matt Townsend and
Chad Kregar will assume the duties
and responsibilities of the Director
of Emergency and Fire Services
(Fire Chief) until a permanent
replacement has been hired. The
Township of North Huron also
wishes to announce the appointment
of Mark Alderman as Principal of
the Emergency Services Training
Centre effective immediately.
"On Nov. 24, 2017, former Chief
Ryan Ladner resigned as Director of
Fire and Emergency Services
effective Dec. 11.
"North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent
stated, 'The Township of North
Huron truly values and appreciates
the work of the Fire Department of
North Huron. North Huron Council
is very pleased the situation has been
resolved to the satisfaction of both
parties.'
"FDNH personnel are pleased
with the common ground resolved
and a positive outcome for our
community."
At the Dec. 7 meeting at the
Training Centre, council named
Alderman the Acting Fire Chief in
the wake of Chief Ryan Ladner's
resignation. Evans, Deputy -Reeve
James Campbell and Councillors
Continued on page 14