HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-04-16, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015. PAGE 7.
RR#1 39843 LONDESBORO RD.,
LONDESBOROUGH
PHONE/FAX 519-523-9781
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ANNOUNCEMENT
As of April 17, 2015
Chamney Auto Repair and Service
will operate as a private garage.
I will continue to serve the public by
concentrating on the sales of used vehicles.
I appreciate your business and look forward to
continuing to serve you.
Thank you
Eldon Chamney
Ombudsman deems CH meeting in compliance
Central Huron has been found to
be mostly compliant with its closed-
to-the-public meeting procedures
after the second Ontario
Ombudsman investigation in three
years.
In a report entitled “Recording
Unavailable” by Ombudsman André
Marin, which was released earlier
this month, Marin found that a
closed-to-the-public session of
Central Huron Council on Jan. 12,
2015 was a lawful meeting. The
municipality, however, failed to
record the closed session, which is in
contravention of the municipality’s
procedural bylaw.
The process began two days after
the Jan. 12 meeting, when the
Ombudsman’s office received a
complaint about the meeting. The
complainant alleged that in the
closed meeting council discussed the
work of a former contractor in a
professional, not personal capacity –
this came after council went into
closed session under the “personal
matters” exception.
The complainant also alleged that
council went into the closed session
without prior notice. However,
Marin concluded, that the
municipality’s procedural bylaw
does allow for council to go into a
closed session without prior notice.
Marin’s report states that the
conversation in question pertained to
the municipality’s Recreation and
Leisure Guide, a request for
proposals for the new guide going
forward and concerns regarding a
previous contract for the production
of the guide.
The discussion began in open
session, but then moved to closed
session when discussion centred
around an identifiable individual.
Councillor Genny Smith declared a
conflict of interest on the matter in
open session and, once the meeting
shifted into closed session, vacated
her seat and left the council
chambers for the duration of the
discussion.
While in closed session, the report
concluded, councillors raised
concerns about a former contractor,
including questions about the
person’s performance and
credibility.
Marin stated that he was satisfied
that council went into closed session
for the right reasons and operated
lawfully once in closed session.
“In the Central Huron case,
council for the municipality
discussed the work of a contractor,
who was identified by name.
Council members also commented
on the individual’s performance and
personal credibility,” Marin’s report
stated. “I am satisfied that these
discussions crossed into the realm of
personal matters and that council’s
reliance on the exception was
justified.”
In his report, Marin stated that the
municipality failed to be transparent
in its dealings when it didn’t record
the closed-to-the-public meeting.
“However, the municipality
violated its procedure bylaw by
failing to audio or video record its
closed meeting. In so doing, the
municipality lost an opportunity to
demonstrate confidence that it is
following the rules, and to inspire
community trust in the transparency
and accountability of local
government,” the report stated. “It
also resulted in my office having to
conduct formal interviews of those
present at the meeting, necessitating
additional time and resources for
both my office and the
municipality.”
He also referred back to his 2013
report on Central Huron Council,
which found that council had held
two illegal meetings in 2012. At the
conclusion of Marin’s 2013 report,
he made nine recommendations to
council, one of which was the audio
and video recording of closed
sessions to increase transparency.
In addition to once again
recommending the recording of
closed-to-the-public sessions, Marin
also suggested that councillors
remain vigilant when it comes
to following the municipality’s
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Lions breakfast, Songfest coming up
Next Sunday, April 19 could be a
busy day for you in the village.
The Londesborough Lions Club
will be serving up their Olde Tyme
Country Breakfast at the
Community Hall from 8 to 11 a.m.
Adults eat for $7 while children
under 12 eat for $3.
Then at 7 p.m. the Londesborough
United Church invites you to its
annual Songfest. The Firehouse
Five, a group of local musicians who
will be familiar to area residents are
sure to entertain with music and
patter. Seven-year-old Ava Dawe
and parents, Heather and Steve, are
The Honey Sweethearts and are
pleased to be part of the evening.
The Snell Family Singers will be
returning to their home church and
need no real introduction.
This year organizer and choir
director Barb Bosman has been
rehearsing with the Londesborough
Senior Choir to present some
numbers. Two of those choir
members, Mark and Laurel Mitchell
are stepping out on their own as well
to sing for the audience. Admission
is $10 and refreshments will follow.
Speaking of singing, the Blyth
Festival Singers presented a
wonderful concert on April 12 at the
Blyth Memorial Hall, just the proper
venue for “Songs of Wartime and
Peace”. The Howling Dogs Jazz
Band were a complementary
addition to the afternoon’s program.
A memory of his time in World War
II by Tom Hennessy reminded all
that we need to be ever so grateful
for the men and women who fought
for our freedom.
The next UCW meeting is next
Monday, April 20 beginning at 7:30
p.m. Women of the community are
always welcome.
Ever busy in the community, the
Londesborough Lions Club will don
their aprons again on Saturday, May
2 for their annual fish fry at the
Community Hall. Tickets in advance
are appreciated so contact any Lion
member.
Last Wednesday Dawn Smith,
who is recreation director at
Goderich Place, brought former
village residents to the “coffee and
conversation” hour at
Londesborough United. Pleased to
catch up with Londesborough folk
were Helen Lee, Ruth Vincent and
Harry and Gail Lear. Along to help
out was Marie Krauter.
Villagers are pleased to welcome
Cody and Shalena to the village.
They have moved into the house
recently vacated by Jeff Ferguson.
Jeff has moved closer to his work.
Cody, son of Don and Kim Reid, is
no stranger to the village having
grown up here. No sooner were they
moved in and a wee daughter
arrived. Welcome to our village and
congratulations.
My recent mailing from the
Alzheimer Society of Huron County
included a notice of the showing of
the film Still Alice. This is a true
story of a woman and her struggle
with early onset Alzheimer disease.
The book is very moving and I am
anxious to see the movie. It will be
presented at the Park Theatre in
Goderich on Saturday, April 25 at 2
p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door.
Huron County 4-H is holding an e-
waste and clothing drive at Hensall
District Co-operative on Saturday,
April 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Clothing will be donated to the
cerebral palsy aid program.
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
What could it be?
Londesborough correspondent Brenda Radford enjoys her
visits with Bob Trick as they usually involve some sort of
mystery item, like the one shown above that Trick says is
sports related. Can you figure out what it is? Check this
space in the April 23 issue of The Citizen for the answer.
(Brenda Radford photo)
Shearling Jackets
Downtown Blyth
519-523-4740
Bainton’s
Old Mill
NEWS
FROM LONDESBORO
Continued on page 14