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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-28, Page 28As of Wednesday, Nov. 20, Dr. Nancy Cameron has been relieved of her duties as Huron County’s Medical Officer of Health and director of the Huron County Health Unit. In an interview with The Citizen, Joe Steffler, Huron East Deputy- Mayor and Chair of Huron County’s Board of Health, said Cameron was officially dismissed after a special Board of Health meeting the morning of Nov. 20. “We voted unanimously to dismiss Dr. Nancy Cameron,” Steffler said of the meeting. Because it is a personnel issue, Steffler says he cannot get into the specifics of the decision, only that she had been dismissed one week (Nov. 13) after being placed on paid leave. Steffler said that in the meantime, Huron County will be covered by the London-Middlesex Health Unit until a full-time replacement can be found, which Steffler says should happen in the near future. Cameron had served as Huron County’s Medical Officer of Health for approximately five years. In 2012, as reported under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, Cameron earned $307,466 and was Huron County’s highest paid employee by a margin of over $150,000. Continued from page 19 have changed.” The review, according to Michie, proved the municipality didn’t need any additional land designated for development, but stated they could look at changing which lands are slated to develop. Specific examples of land included area adjacent to Wescast outside of Wingham, as well as lands adjacent to the new Pioneer Seeds plant and Royal Homes. Warwick, however, was still frustrated with the situation, stating every time Morris-Turnberry Council asks for something in his time, they were told to wait for the official plan which included none of the requested changes. “The only reason I can see for that is, if someone wants something changed, they need an official plan amendment, which costs $3,500,” he said. “Money drives the wheel I guess.” Michie indicated there was little council could do without working with the Planning Department and Reid stated she was unfamiliar with the practice of removing designations from lands so other lands could be designated as developable industrial, commercial and residential properties. She did say, however, she would look into it and report back to council. Continued from page 23 nearby farmers. “We don’t have strong enough right-to-farm legislation,” he said suggesting sooner or later some trail user would sue a farmer for creating an unpleasant smell. Others worried about the expense of rehabilitating the old railway line where several bridges were removed by CP Rail when it abandoned the line in 1988. “There are a few million dollars worth of bridges [needed] to get from Walton to Auburn” one person said. This creates dangerous conditions for trail users. Still others questioned why anyone would want to use the trail. “If you go from Blyth to Monkton it’s extremely boring,” one woman said. But although the majority of speakers expressed doubts or were downright opposed to the trail, there were positive voices. David Parker from the Wellington County Federation of Agriculture is the agricultural representative on the Kissing Bridge Trailway organization and assured neighbouring landowners that creating the trail in his area helped solve some of the problems they currently face. The trail is posted to forbid the use by motorized vehicles. Barriers are erected on the trail where farmers are crossing from one side to the other with farm machinery and even if ATVs trespass they were slowed going around them. Maintaining the trail and keeping it clean makes it harder for those who might do damage to hide their actions, Parker said. A cyclist countered the argument that nobody would use the trail, saying she felt it would be well used. “People would come from as far away as Quebec to use a 127- kilometre trail,” she said. Because of the length of the trail, many would break up their journey by staying in bed and breakfasts. “I just think it’s amazing,” she said. Napier Simpson of Goderich, presenting Regional Tourism Organization 4 backed up that opinion. “Trails are a wonderful tourism magnet,” he said and pointed to the Le P'tit Train du Nord Linear Park, a 230-kilometre trail on a former railway line running north from Montreal to the Laurentian Mountains that gets 600,000 users a year. Ann Melady of Dublin said she knows a lot of people from across the province who like to hike and would want to use the trail if it was developed. “And we do not go off the trail and we do clean up after ourselves,” she said. Comments and questions both negative and positive were recorded. Warden Robertson assured those present that county council will explore all aspects of the issue before any decision is made. Royal Flush Royal Flush Improv was on the Blyth Memorial Hall stage on Saturday night and, despite the poor weather, played to a healthy audience. The group, assembled by Clinton native and Toronto actor Nug Nahrgang, second from left, took cues from the audience and performed on stage in scenarios chosen by audience members. The group also featured Bluevale-area native Mandy Sellers, not pictured. (Jim Brown photo) Here you go Representatives from the annual Blyth Witches Walk recently presented the Blyth Lions Club with a donation as a result of funds raised at their event. Fred Deboer, left, president of the Blyth Lions Club, is seen here accepting the donation from Bev Blair from the Blyth Witches Walk. (Vicky Bremner photo) PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013. Positive voices back rail trail Cameron dismissedas officer of health by unanimous vote Review discussed Have We Got Your Number? The Citizen is now planning its 2014-2015 Telephone Book. WANT TO ADD YOUR CELL PHONE LISTING? If you would like your cell number listed in our listings we can add it if you give us the information. We will only put your cell phone number in our book if you don’t have a land line. Is your number correct in the recently delivered Bell Canada phone book? Do you have a new listing since that book was compiled? If so, please let us know so we can make our phone book as complete and useful as possible. Call 519-523-4792. REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Answers to Crossword on Page 10 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen