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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-02-12, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Dual leadership in medical officer of health role? Old system received accolades from province: Grace The County of Huron needs a permanent medical officer of health (MOH) but the roles and responsibilities of that post have yet to be sorted out. The county has contracted out the position, which must be staffed 365 days a year, since the dismissal of Dr. Nancy Cam- eron late last year. Two Goderich councillors, Deb Shewfelt and John Grace, said a dual leadership model that existed prior to Cameron's arrival was ideal. "Six years ago we had the best model," Grade said at county council's Wed. Feb. 5 session at the Huron County Court- house. "(Now) we don't have a good name in the world of public health and we have to work on that." The old model allowed the executive director to handle administrative matters as part of a senior management team that reported to the CAO. The medical officer of health stuck to medical matters, current CAO Brenda Orchard told media. Shewfelt said the county had a good system but noted it will now be hard to get a doctor "because of our reputation!' Grace said the dual role system was accredited and one of the best models in the province. "We received accolades from the province in how it operated." "Maybe we should go back to that model." The executive director regularly attended council to answer questions, noted Coun. Ben Van Diepenbeek (Ashfield - Colborne-Wawanosh), while the medical role, which was more part-time, saved the county money. The old model got derailed, he said, but wouldn't elaborate why. Asked how the current sin- gle staffer MOH model came about, Grace said: "That is not up for discussion." Former board of health chair Joe Steffler, currently Warden, told the Signal Star last year that Cameron had been dismissed but wouldn't comment on the matter. Current health board chair Bill Dowson said a number of councillors are unaware of the workings of the board and they need to be brought up to speed. In order to attract the former medical officer of health, the county's board of health agreed to shift staff management responsibility to the MOH. Even though they are county employees, staff was managed through the board of health, Orchard explained. "There are complications that arise in those situations because one organization is responsible for the employ- ment and culture and work- place of those employees but they are managed through a different board. But that was the request of the (former) medical officer of health and part of the hiring process." As for the forthcoming hir- ing process, Orchard said there is flexibility for the board of health. "There are a number of different models in the province. As long as we adhere to what the legis- lation requires, we are fine." Whether employees are managed through the county structure or report to the MOH are not requirements from a provincial perspective. The CAO said the medical piece is different from the administrative side but "sometimes you can get both of those in the same person." The province funds most of the salary, which is north of $300,000. Costs would still be shared if the county went with a two -person system. In a memo to council, Orchard said now that the Perth board of health has declared they are not inter- ested in amalgamation with the Huron board, it would be prudent for the local board to proceed with the MOH hiring. She noted the admin- istrative reporting relation- ship of the county employees at the health unit is within the decision-making author- ity of council and should be discussed with the board of health before the MOH is hired. In the memo, Orchard rec- ommended council send a letter to the board of health inviting discussion on options for future management struc- ture for the health unit, and mandating that a guiding principle of discussion be that the administrator responsible for employee management must have authority to manage employ- ees. Authority was underlined in the memo. Orchard hopes to have the position filled by March 31. It was also announced at the meeting that treasurer John Cummings has left his position with the county. Huron OPP looking for 23 -year-old suspect Huron OPP are asking for public assistance to help find a 23 -year-old male wanted in the county. Justin David Field holds several arrest warrants and is known to frequent Goderich, Clinton, Walker - t o n , Lucknow and Teeswater. His present whereabouts are unknown. Field is described as white, 5 -foot -11, 170 pounds, with a thin build, brown hair and green eyes. He has a scar on his right cheek under his eye and a "death skull" tattoo on the right side of his neck. Police advise residents not to approach Field. Contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310- 1122 or their local police detachment. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS. Hummer stolen, lit on fire A red, 2003 Hummer that was stolen overnight Feb. 5 from a Winnipeg Street address in Huron East was found completely destroyed by fire by a property owner in Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh. The vehicle, worth $11,000, was taken between midnight and 5 a.m. and found on the side of road on Saratoga Line between Hawkins Road and Dungan- non Road. Anyone with information should contact police. Snowmobiler was a prohibited driver A 29 -year-old Central Huron male was charged with driving while disquali- fied and failing to provide evidence of a valid permit after police on snowmobile patrol caught up with him just after 2 p.m. on Feb. 4. The male was aboard a Bombardier 600, on an Ontario Federation of Snow- mobile Clubs (OFSC) trail southwest of Clinton. The snowmobile was impounded for 45 days. Double the limit leads to racing charge A 54 -year-old speedster was charged with racing a motor vehicle after being clocked driving 164 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. The Perth East man was stopped just before 3:30 p.m. 011 Feb. 3. He is due for a court appearance in Provin- cial Offences Court on March 18. His driver's license was suspended for seven days and vehicle impounded for that duration. First driver though R.I.D.E. program needs a lift home The very first driver though an OPP R.I.D.E. check program needed a lift home after the driver picked up a warn range suspension. Police stopped the 26 -year-old in his Volkswa- gen Jetta at 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 2. He also had open booze in his car. The driver was served with a three-day license suspension. t 671 0 .-1 "Mr e I-1-1 You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS CHURCH 21Jarvis St. Seaforth Rector The Rev. Karine Farmer Rectory 519-482-9071 Church Office 519-527-1522 Sunday, February 16 Worship at 9:30 a.m. Followed by "Coins for Camp" Coffee Hour EVERYONE WELCOME Council meets Tues. Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-345-2972 Sun. Mass 11 a.m. ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN Sat. Mass 5 p.m. Sun. Mass 9 a.m. FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Pastor Mark Kennedy Sunday School for all ages 9:45-10:45 SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 11 a.m. Wednesday Evenings • Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High 6:30 to 9 p.m. • Boys & Girls Club JK to Gr. 6 7 - 8:15 p.m. • Adult Bible Study 7 p.m. 6, EVERYONE WELCOME EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Pastor Steve Hildebrand Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura Worship Feb. 16th, 11 a.m. Everyone is Welcome Youth Sunday School at 11 a.m. Adults at 10 a.m. Earbuds and elevator available Website: www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com Like us on Facebook Coming soon May 3 The Black Family Singers NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH MINISTER MARY FLETCHER Sunday, Feb. 16th, 9:30 a.m. Northside Annual Meeting with Brent Caslick Lunch to Follow You are invited to join us in worship. Sunday School and Nursery Provided. 654 Goderich St W. 6 519-527-1449 www.cavannorthsideunited.ca N FIRST 59 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Rev. Linda Moffatt Lome Baker - Organist Worship Sunday, Feb. 16th, 11 a.m. All Welcome Sunday School & Nursery Provided. Office Hours: Wed. 9 a.m. - noon ..,. '•-•'" Colborne-Wawanosh), while the medical role, which was more part-time, saved the county money. The old model got derailed, he said, but wouldn't elaborate why. Asked how the current sin- gle staffer MOH model came about, Grace said: "That is not up for discussion." Former board of health chair Joe Steffler, currently Warden, told the Signal Star last year that Cameron had been dismissed but wouldn't comment on the matter. Current health board chair Bill Dowson said a number of councillors are unaware of the workings of the board and they need to be brought up to speed. In order to attract the former medical officer of health, the county's board of health agreed to shift staff management responsibility to the MOH. Even though they are county employees, staff was managed through the board of health, Orchard explained. "There are complications that arise in those situations because one organization is responsible for the employ- ment and culture and work- place of those employees but they are managed through a different board. But that was the request of the (former) medical officer of health and part of the hiring process." As for the forthcoming hir- ing process, Orchard said there is flexibility for the board of health. "There are a number of different models in the province. As long as we adhere to what the legis- lation requires, we are fine." Whether employees are managed through the county structure or report to the MOH are not requirements from a provincial perspective. The CAO said the medical piece is different from the administrative side but "sometimes you can get both of those in the same person." The province funds most of the salary, which is north of $300,000. Costs would still be shared if the county went with a two -person system. In a memo to council, Orchard said now that the Perth board of health has declared they are not inter- ested in amalgamation with the Huron board, it would be prudent for the local board to proceed with the MOH hiring. She noted the admin- istrative reporting relation- ship of the county employees at the health unit is within the decision-making author- ity of council and should be discussed with the board of health before the MOH is hired. In the memo, Orchard rec- ommended council send a letter to the board of health inviting discussion on options for future management struc- ture for the health unit, and mandating that a guiding principle of discussion be that the administrator responsible for employee management must have authority to manage employ- ees. Authority was underlined in the memo. Orchard hopes to have the position filled by March 31. It was also announced at the meeting that treasurer John Cummings has left his position with the county. Huron OPP looking for 23 -year-old suspect Huron OPP are asking for public assistance to help find a 23 -year-old male wanted in the county. Justin David Field holds several arrest warrants and is known to frequent Goderich, Clinton, Walker - t o n , Lucknow and Teeswater. His present whereabouts are unknown. Field is described as white, 5 -foot -11, 170 pounds, with a thin build, brown hair and green eyes. He has a scar on his right cheek under his eye and a "death skull" tattoo on the right side of his neck. Police advise residents not to approach Field. Contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310- 1122 or their local police detachment. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS. Hummer stolen, lit on fire A red, 2003 Hummer that was stolen overnight Feb. 5 from a Winnipeg Street address in Huron East was found completely destroyed by fire by a property owner in Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh. The vehicle, worth $11,000, was taken between midnight and 5 a.m. and found on the side of road on Saratoga Line between Hawkins Road and Dungan- non Road. Anyone with information should contact police. Snowmobiler was a prohibited driver A 29 -year-old Central Huron male was charged with driving while disquali- fied and failing to provide evidence of a valid permit after police on snowmobile patrol caught up with him just after 2 p.m. on Feb. 4. The male was aboard a Bombardier 600, on an Ontario Federation of Snow- mobile Clubs (OFSC) trail southwest of Clinton. The snowmobile was impounded for 45 days. Double the limit leads to racing charge A 54 -year-old speedster was charged with racing a motor vehicle after being clocked driving 164 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. The Perth East man was stopped just before 3:30 p.m. 011 Feb. 3. He is due for a court appearance in Provin- cial Offences Court on March 18. His driver's license was suspended for seven days and vehicle impounded for that duration. First driver though R.I.D.E. program needs a lift home The very first driver though an OPP R.I.D.E. check program needed a lift home after the driver picked up a warn range suspension. Police stopped the 26 -year-old in his Volkswa- gen Jetta at 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 2. He also had open booze in his car. The driver was served with a three-day license suspension.