HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-02-16, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012.
The Huron County budget made
waves once again at the Feb. 8
meeting of Huron County Council’s
Committee of the Whole.
Warden Bernie MacLellan
suggested that after the budget was
presented to councillors at the
second Committee of the Whole
meeting of the month on Feb. 15 that
two special budget days be set aside,
specifically March 2 and March 5.
However not all councillors felt
that special meetings were the way
to go, both in terms of deliberation
and in fairness to the residents of
Huron County.
“I’m wondering why we can’t
handle this in regular committee
meetings,” said Goderich’s Deb
Shewfelt. “I don’t think we need to
spend $5,000 every time we have a
special meeting.”
Shewfelt said council should deal
with the budget during the regular
council meetings because there
would be more than enough time to
handle it before the end of April.
Councillor Paul Klopp agreed,
saying that council should get
started as soon as the budget has
been presented and councillors have
had a chance to review it on their
own time.
MacLellan said he would be
happy to handle the budget during
regular committee meetings and that
the only reason he had proposed
special meetings was that at noon on
a regular committee meeting day,
Huron County Council begins tolose representatives to work or othercommitments.
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn,
however, said that far more time
needs to be spent on the budget.
“I’m not comfortable with that
approach at all,” Ginn said. “I was
literally appalled at how little time
we spent on the budget last year.
We were not nearly in-depth
enough.”
Ginn suggested that council be
broken out into smaller committees
that could review a specificdepartment’s budget line by line toensure that enough time is spent on a
budget that tops $100 million.
Huron East’s Joe Steffler said that
it only makes sense to ensure that
enough time is spent on the budget.
He said if the budget is rushed
through, then it’s not fair to the
taxpayers of Huron County.
“This is by the people, for the
people,” Steffler said. “The budget is
very important.
“People shouldn’t be rushing out
at noon. If we’re really invested inwhat we’re doing, people shouldstay all day. Let’s start doing our
jobs and staying here.”
Howick’s Art Versteeg agreed.
“We’re paid to be here for a full
day,” he said, “I think we should
start putting in a few full days.”
Shewfelt, however, said that
councillors should be able to put
their time in at home to study the
budget before coming to the
Goderich meetings.
“We have six committee meetings
before the budget gets passed,”Shewfelt said. “You don’t have to behere to study the budget.”
Shewfelt denounced Ginn’s
suggested approach, calling it
“micromanaging” the budget and
told councillors to take the budget
home when it’s presented on Feb.
15, study it and be ready to discuss it
at the first meeting in March.
The budget was set to be presented
to councillors on Feb. 15 and talks
would resume at the first Committee
of the Whole meeting on March 14.
CATHERINE GENEVIEVE
“KAY” RICH
Kay (Fitzpatrick) Rich of
Brussels, and formerly of Wingham
passed away peacefully, after a long
battle with Alzheimer’s Disease at
Huronlea Home for the Aged,
Brussels on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.
She was in her 93rd year.
Kay was the beloved wife of the
late Edward Rich, who predeceased
her in 2001. She was the loving
mother of George and Mary Rich of
RR 2, Bayfield, Warren and Evelyn
Rich of Belgrave, Ruth Anne and
Keith Brighton of Kitchener, Ken
and Sheila Rich of Fordwich and
Darlene and Todd Millin of Fonthill.
Kay was cherished by her
grandchildren Paul Rich, Jason Rich
(Susan), Amanda Rich (Phil),
Patrick Brighton (Nicole), Brandy
Brighton (Adam) and Katie
Millin.
Kay is also survived by three
great-grandchildren, Henry, Hunter
and Lyric, sister Mildred Holmes of
Kitchener, sister-in-law Mary
Fitzpatrick of London and several
nieces and nephews. She was
predeceased by her parents Maurice
and Leah (McCormick) Fitzpatrick,
sisters Theresa Dunn, Edith McLeod
and brother George Fitzpatrick.
Besides raising a family, Kay was
the past president of the Catholic
Women’s League and the Ladies
Auxiliarly of the Royal Canadian
Legion. She was an avid volunteer
with the Red Cross as well as the
Gift Shop at the Wingham Hospital.
She worked at both the Simpson
Sears and the Eaton’s order
offices in Wingham as well as at
CKNX.
Visitation was held at McBurney
Funeral Home, Wingham on Feb. 9.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held
at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic
Church on Feb. 10. Father K.P.
Morrison officiated. Interment is in
Wingham Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the
Alzheimer Society of Ontario or a
charity of one’s choice would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy. Vigil Prayer Service was
held in the funeral home on Feb. 9.
Online condolences may be left at
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
BRYAN RUSSELL SEWERS
Bryan Sewers of RR 2, Wiarton,
passed away at Grey Bruce Health
Services, Owen Sound on
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012.
Bryan was the beloved husband of
the former Evelyn Saari and dear
father of Tanya Sewers, Dwayne
Sewers and Simone Delima and
Deryck Sewers, all of Kitchener-
Waterloo.
He was the brother of Faye Bolger
of Blyth, Dale Sewers of London,
Regge Sewers of Wingham and
Mayme and Brian Gibbons of RR 3,
Wingham.
Bryan is also survived by several
nieces and nephews. He was
predeceased by his parents Russell
and Ruth (Nickel) Sewers.
Visitation was held at Downs and
Son Funeral Home Ltd., Hepworth,
on Friday. The funeral service was
held at McBurney Funeral Home,
Wingham on Saturday with
visitation prior to the funeral. Rev.
Pamela Fitkin officiated. Spring
interment is in McIntosh Cemetery,
Carrick Township.
Memorial donations to the
Canadian Cancer Society or a
charity of one’s choice would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy.
Messages of condolences for the
family are welcome at www.downs
andsonfuneralhome.com or
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
Councillor Bernie Bailey of North
Huron Township is concerned that
the switch to clear garbage bags may
be a bit too abrupt for certain
members of the community.
Bailey stated during council’s Feb.
6 meeting that he had received calls
from ratepayers who were stating
that the small “kitchen catcher” style
opaque garbage bag that will be
allowed for privacy in clear bags
won’t be enough for people to feel
comfortable putting their garbage
out.
“We live in an aging society and
they take their personal matters
seriously,” he said. “I think we’re
starting too harsh.”
Bailey stated that he had been
told, by Director of Public Works
Ralph Campbell, that people could
use garbage cans for additional
privacy but he still felt that wasn’t
enough.
He requested that council amend
the garbage plan, which is slated to
be rolled out the first of March, to
allow a second privacy bag.
Campbell stated that, while
garbage cans are certainly allowed,
it wasn’t something he wanted to
advertise.
“If the bags don’t easily come out
of the cans, they won’t waste time
trying to get them out,” Campbell
stated, adding that garbage cans
could prompt people to go over the
40 lb weight limit on garbage.
He stated that anyone who used a
garbage can should cut a hole in the
bottom to allow air to get through
the can when it is being emptied.
Councillor Brock Vodden stated
that the issue wasn’t really as bad as
Bailey thought.
“This concern has been
overblown, I don’t think we need to
be concerned about it,” Vodden
said.
Councillors look ahead to budget meetings
NH trash
concerns
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 27th
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline April 29, 2012.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑Blyth
& area ❑Brussels
& area
North St. West, Wingham
Mac & Donna Anderson
519-357-1910
A cemetery is a history of
people, a perpetual record of
yesterday and a sanctuary of
peace and quiet today. A
cemetery exists because every
life is worth loving and
remembering - always
Distinctive Memorials of
Lasting Satisfaction
BOX 158 WINGHAM ONT NOG 2W0
Obituaries
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen