HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-02-09, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012.Former councillors snubbed at closed session
Trails not
close to
ready
Three former councillors
simplified Huron County Council’s
decision at the end of the Feb. 1
meeting when they walked out
before a closed-to-the-public session
was about to begin.
Prior to a closed session at the end
of Feb. 1’s Huron County Council
meeting, Warden Bernie MacLellan
asked council if they would be
willing to include three former
Huron County councillors in the
meeting.
Huron East’s Bill Siemon, North
Huron’s David Riach and Central
Huron’s Brian Barnim were all in the
gallery observing the meeting and
when discussion began to turn
negative regarding MacLellan’s
comments, the three councillors
made the decision for council,
walking out of the meeting while
discussion continued.
MacLellan said it was under the
advice of Huron County solicitor
Greg Stewart which came out of the
ongoing appeal process of council’scomposition that the councillors,who had been removed from council
late last year, attend meetings and
keep up to date on council in the
event that they are reinstated at the
conclusion of the appeal.
Goderich’s Deb Shewfelt,
however, called foul on the
recommendation, saying that it
didn’t come from Stewart and that
perhaps it was “London lawyers”
who made the recommendation,
referring to the lawyers representing
the four municipalities that lost
representation late last year.When MacLellan posed thequestion to council, Chief
Administrative Officer Larry Adams
said there would be no procedural
issue caused by allowing the
councillors to stay, but that it would
be up to council to make the
decision.
Shewfelt was the first to speak
against MacLellan’s statement.
“I’m shocked and surprised that
you would ask that,” Shewfelt said to
MacLellan. “That is so out of order
it’s not even funny.”
MacLellan countered Shewfelt’sargument by saying that thecouncillors were instructed to be
kept up to speed on the going-on of
council, a statement with which
Shewfelt disagreed.
Shewfelt said that after doing
some digging, he found that nothing
to that effect was said at the hearing
and he didn’t know where it
originated.
“You give it to the press and that’s
how it got out,” Shewfelt said to
MacLellan. “I checked with the
lawyers and I saw it in the papers
and there was nothing ever said thatthey could attend behind the rail.”MacLellan said he was simply
asking council and not making a
suggestion, but that it was his
understanding that the councillors
had been advised to stay current on
what was happening with Huron
County Council. If he was wrong in
that, he said, he would find out
immediately.
MacLellan instructed staff to
prepare and bring a report back to
council as soon as it could be
prepared.
Whether you’re snowmobiling in
North Huron or Huron East, the trail
groomers agree that, even if a few
days of good snow fall, it will be a
long time before the trails are ready.
“We’re going to need a lot more
snow before we can even get the
groomer out,” Laurie Campbell,
chair of the Brussels Trail Grooming
Association said. “None of District
9 [which includes Huron County]
has been approved for use.”
Bruce Howson of the North Huron
Trail Groomers also said that it
would take time to prepare.
“There needs to be quite a bit of
snow before we can even get the
groomers out,” he said. “It won’t be
a short period of time before the
trails are ready.”
Campbell said that there would
need to be close to a foot of snow, at
least 10 inches, before they could
begin preparing the trails.
Campbell said that the trails aren’t
open yet and wouldn’t be until at
least 10 inches of snow is on the
ground and enough time has passed
for the ground to freeze. He also
said that anyone found on the trails
could be charged with trespassing
“There isn’t enough snow and the
ground isn’t frozen yet,” he said.
“Farmers’ hay and wheat could be
damaged.”
Howson said he didn’t recall a
season on record that was as bad as
this.
“We’ve had years where the snow
just hasn’t come but we haven’t had
anything like this,” he said.
“Nothing with this amount or a
season this long where the snow has
come and gone so often.”
While permits are available at
local businesses many people had
already bought them prior to the
season proving to be so
disappointing for snow enthusiasts
according to Howson.
“Our permit sales were very good
this year,” he said. “We usually sell
most of them prior to Dec. 1 since
they are less expensive then.”
Howson said that the permits are
$200 before Dec. 1 and $50 more
after.
For more information or trail
reports check www.ofscdistrict9.ca
or www.ofsc.on.ca
Lisa Thompson
MPP for Huron-Bruce
Congratulations on your new Constituency Office
at 408 Queen St., Blyth
These businesses were proud to be a part of this endeavour
ELLIOTT NIXON
INSURANCE BROKERS INC.
BLYTH BUILDING
SUPPLIES LTD.
SUPPLIERS TO RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURAL &
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Gary, Chris, Mike & ElishaMEMBER OF HURON INSURANCE MANAGERS GROUP
5 Generations Since 1910
John, Rick, Randy & Staff
KEYSA
TECHNOLOGIES
Jeffrey Bowman
Electronic Engineering Technologist
PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE Don “Barney” & Linda Stewart
Steve Phillips
Licensed Plumber
Greg Rutledge
Licensed Carpenter
Specializing in...
New Construction,
Roofing Renovations,
Siding, Soffit & Fascia,
Finish Construction
A Warm Welcome to
www.sparlings.com
All Natural Gas
Services
Sales, Installation & Service
of Gas Fired Equipment
Scott LaFlamme
Paul Safr
www.hitservices.ca
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen