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.
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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.