The Citizen, 2012-05-31, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012. PAGE 19.
MacLellan pleased
with Cuff’s report
Renaming of park questioned by gallery
New executive
The Huron West District Women’s Institute unveiled its new executive during a meeting at the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) building in Clinton on May
28. Shown are, from left, Secretary/Treasurer Dorothy Coultes, President Dianna Robinson,
Tweedsmuir Wilma Higgins, ROSE Advocate Doreen Marks, Assistant P.R.O. Nancy Jardin
and first Vice President Sally McMullen. (Denny Scott photo)
When North Huron Township
Council decided to rename a
recently reopened park on County
Road 4 just north of Blyth under a
new name at its May 22 meeting, it
caused some questions from staff
and some muffled discussion from
the gallery.
The park, which has been tied up
in red tape due to ownership
questions and missing documents,
was recently reopened by North
Huron Council and, at their recent
meeting, councillors decided to
name it Little People MemorialPark. The park will, according tocouncil’s stated hopes, be populated
with items donated in memory of
those who passed away before the
age of 19.
After some debate Councillor Ray
Hallahan, who put forward the idea,
explained he had borrowed the name
from a park in the United States with
a similar mandate and practice.
Director of Facilities and
Recreation Pat Newson explained to
council that, when she originally
heard the name, she liked it and the
idea, but, upon reflection, she
decided it might not really fit what
council was pursuing. She said that “little people” couldmean the youth that council was
hoping to memorialize but it could
also refer to another group,
specifically those with growth-
related conditions.
Council, however, felt the message
was clear and passed the bylaw.
Newson said she would begin the
process to designate the park and
have signage erected with the name.
Resident Steve Hill, however,didn’t feel that the park’s name fitand felt that some people could find
it offensive.
Hill’s perceived demeanor,
however, seemed to have tainted his
argument as Chief Administrative
Officer Gary Long reprimanded him
for “giggling” about the name.
Long pointed out that members of
council had lost family members
who were very young and stated
that Hill’s actions werereprehensible.“You’re back there giggling and I
find that offensive,” he said.
Hill’s response of “Oh well,”
ended the discussion.
Others in the gallery agreed that it
wasn’t worth offending other groups
and that the name should be
changed.
Council, however, proceeded with
the meeting.
Continued from page 13
that all of the report’s
recommendations would be adopted
and implemented by council, but
that councillors saw merit in many
of them.
He said he didn’t think some of
the recommendations “would fly”
and that there will be some in-depth
discussion at the June 6 strategic
planning meeting. One of the
toughest sells, MacLellan said,
would be reducing Huron County
Council to just nine representatives.
MacLellan says he has been
approached by various members of
the county staff asking if positions
would be eliminated if the county
was to adopt a new structural model
and he can’t answer with any
confidence. Because council hasn’t
even met to officially discuss the
recommendations, there is no telling
what structural changes, if any, the
county will adopt.
It is MacLellan’s hope, however,
that the recommendations and
whatever is adopted by
council make the county a better
place.
MacLellan says the potential
move to a two-year term for the
warden, with the possibility of two
further extensions leading to a total
six-year term, would not affect his
current tenure as warden. He says he
was elected as a one-term warden
and despite any recommendations
adopted over the course of the year,
that will not change. If he chooses to
run again in the fall, however, that
would be a different story.
Overall MacLellan says council is
pleased with the recommendations
made in the report.
“These are good
recommendations,” he said. “They
did a good, thorough job.”
By Denny ScottThe Citizen