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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2013-12-18, Page 9Wednesday, December 18, 2013 • News Record 9 One year, two, are we back to one again? Council to re -address term of warden Paul Cluff Goderich Signal Star The two-year term of warden could be going back to one-year after Huron County council hastily voted to re -address its length of term by year's end. At the Wed. Dec. 11 committee of the whole meeting, council voted 9-7 to bring the topic back to the table, nullifying a November 2012 decision to extend the length of office, set to start after Joe Steffler's term ends next December. As per the municipal act, a deci- sion has to be made either way before the end of the year or that decision won't take effect for four years, because 2014 is an election year, said CAO Brenda Orchard. Council agreed to discuss and vote on the length of term Dec. 30. Opinions varied widely in council chambers. Past Warden George Robertson said council should remember that they are elected in the lower tiers and time commitments will conflict with the warden's post. A two-year term is not good for the lower tiers, he said. Councillors Deb Shewfelt and Dave Jewitt emphasized that Huron County is a big business and consist- ency is needed in leadership in a competitive landscape. "I have been a long, long time believer that it should be a two-year term, it's a business, it's not a social club and we treat it like a social club," Shewfelt said of the warden's post during a break from the meeting. Shewfelt told councillors it takes two or three months to acclimatize to the warden's role. Summers are slower, as well, with fewer meetings. "You can't run a $90 million busi- ness with someone heading it up six or eight months of the year. It's impossible" At the polar opposite of the debate sat Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson, who suggested the warden's post is more of a 'length of service reward' for councillors and a one-year term would give more people a chance to run for the position. Seaforth Mayor Bernie MacLellan balked at the 'reward' suggestion. "As a group we pick someone who can lead, it has nothing to do with how long you have been around:' MacLellan said the worldoad can be managed and responsibilities delegated if need be. The position is not meant to be full-time, he said, though he did take a year off work to focus on the warden's post and Huron East council in 2012. Art Versteeg, who lost the war- den's vote earlier this month to Stef- fler, mentioned in the past he sees the role as a 'figurehead: "I don't believe everyone should get a turn. There are differences in abilities around this table." "It is a figurehead position now, kissing babies and cutting ribbons," Shewfelt said. "I haven't seen (a war- den) get out there and meet with industry and find out what they want. I have been around since the '70's. It's a social club, always has been." Huron County's warden is paid an honorarium of $11,500, plus per diems for full and half-day (less than 2.5 hours) meetings of $259.37 and $148.21, respectively. SPONSORSHIP OF ROMA SUITE TO BE REVIEWED BY LAWYER Two Huron County companies have offered to 'sponsor' a hospital- ity suite at the Rural Ontario Munici- pal Association (ROMA) conference in Toronto next year, Coun. John Grace told councillors. Held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the suites are a place where councillors can interact with each other. A suite that allows the renter to bring their own booze and food runs $1,900 while a suite that sells those items to guests is $1,200. Grace said on a break from the meeting that there are many suites sponsored by businesses and the practice is nothing new. "I don't believe it is a problem." Shewfelt suggested asking the county lawyer if there is any poten- tial conflict. "If it is a company that (the county) are doing large business with, I don't think you can accept that sponsorship. Certainly if you wish to have a room that you can drop in, that's a different thing." "My understanding is they are sponsoring it, whereas if they rented a room and opened it to various communities, it's a different thing to me, but it's a lawyers decision" Council agreed to have legal counsel look into the matter. If they are advised not to accept the spon- sorship, a suite will be paid for on the county dime. WOOD ACCEPTS HONOUR FROM COUNTY Gary Wood was presented with a plaque from the county in honour of his services as emergency manage- ment coordinator. EMS chief Dave Lew said Wood worked in emer- gency services for more than 33 years, including 10 in Huron County. "He moved our system forward and now we are well recognized in southwestern Ontario and the prov- ince," Lew told council. Shewfelt said Wood's expertise was appreciated, particularly when the F3 tornado hit Goderich and area. DEACCESSION AT THE MUSEUM Firearms, an organ and a Sebrin- geville OPP uniform are among the items on their way out of the Huron County Museum. A deaccession process is underway and those items will find their way to other muse- ums, said Meighan Wark, director of cultural services. Items often move from museum to museum, but best practice is to inform the public and council when changes are made to collections, Ward said. TCC is in the Spirit of G(vcins 'Tis the season for giving, and TCC is giving back! 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