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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-12, Page 20A long drawn out exercise came toa anti-climatic conclusion at countycouncil’s Feb. 4 meeting. For months the warden’s task force has been considering options to restructure county council and decrease the number of municipal representatives. At the Jan. 20 committee of the whole a recommendation was made to reject representation be based on each lower tier municipality being given one representative and then increasing it to two based on 6,000 eligible voters. In a recorded vote this was defeated 9-8. Three councillors were absent. The next motion was to retain a consultant to review the issue, and it was this one that came before council after being carried again by recorded vote. However, it soon became apparent that the issues that were stalling councillors to this point, were not going away. Central Huron councillor John Bezaire wondered about the timeline if a consultant was hired. “It’s safe to assume that we are looking to make changes in time for the municipal election of 2014?” Chief administrative officer Larry Adams said, however, that he believed the intention was to have the change take place a soon as possible, so it could take effect for the 2010 election. Bezaire didn’t feel this was enough time. “I think it’s foolhardy to plunder ahead and aim for 2010.” Warden Ken Oke of South Huron noted that next year was a goal towork towards. “But if it doesn’twork out then it would be in time for2014. Everyone wants to proceed asfast as we can but if we run out oftime, we run out of time.” There were those around the table who felt that had already happened. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek said, “If we’re serious about this we need to move forward.” He said he didn’t feel a consultant was required as councillors knew what they wanted. Max Demaray of Howick agreed saying the place to decide this was at county council. “I don’t think we should hire a consultant.” Others, though, pointed out that council was having a problem reaching a consensus. “ ”I think it’s the right idea, but we’re not coming to an agreement,” said Huron East councillor Bernie MacLellan. “Some favour 6,000, others are not willing to let this be the number. Council can make the decision, but I think we will have a hard time agreeing.” Neil Vincent, councillor for North Huron said the issue should be taken to lower tier for comment then brought back to the county. “We have never officially presented them with anything. Let’s find out if there’s any support at all for this.” Bluewater’s Bill Dowson too felt lower tier should have input. “If they don’t want it, it’s finished.” Some argued that it was not a decision to be made by lower tier. Central Huron’s Bert Dykstra said, “I think we need to say what we’d like. Lower tier is not sitting here several times a month to see whether this works or not.”MacLellan agreed. “At the lastmeeting there were those willing togo with 6,000, not because it’s right,but because it’s easiest. That’s thewrong thing. We send this to lower tier and they are going to ask if that gives them the best representation. Our responsibility is to make sure the system’s working.” Bezaire wondered what would happen if council came to a decision before 2014. “Could this council bind the next council to finish what we shart?” Adams said the next council could come back with a triple majority and change it. This would requireapproval by county, lower tier andthe population.The motion to hire a consultantwas defeated 12-7 in a recordedvote. Huron East councillor Joe Seili was absent. A motion was then brought forward to present two options to lower tier, the first being the recommendaton defeated at committee suggesting one representative per 6,000 people, and the other for one representative for 9,000 people. Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt felt it was appearing like councillors were “protecting” themselves. “Let’svote on this and send it out.”Others were less enthusiastic,however. “It is not the responsibilityof lower tiers to say what thiscouncil should be,” said Bluewater councillor Jim Fergusson. Another recorded vote followed discussion. The motion was defeated again by 13-6. Vincent made a motion to “drop any thought of restructuring and carry on.” This ended in a tie with Oke breaking it in favour of the recommendation, because, “we’re just spinning our wheels.” PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009. Some questions regarding the change to the hours at the Howick Library will bring the topic back to the Huron County Library board for further consideration. Howick councillor Max Demaray told his Huron County counterparts at the Feb. 4 meeting that many residents aren’t happy about the change from having the Branch open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rather than from 1-5 p.m. on Fridays. Demaray added that he felt this had been done without any consultation with ratepayers. However, county librarian Beth Ross said the change came about because of survey. “From those results, a recommendation was brought forward to the library board and carried,” she said. She added that the intention was to review the situation in eight months. When Demaray mentioned again that Howick residents had not been consulted, Ross re-iterated that a survey had been distributed. “People might have chosen not to comment, but the changes were made based on the ones who did.” “Well, I’d like to know who they are, because I can’t seem to find someone who responded,” countered Demaray. It was decided to bring the information back to the library board, so Demaray would have some information to offer to dissatisfied residents. “It will help him in trying to answer the questions if he knows the results,” said Bluewater councillor Bill Dowson. County council restructuring off table Business Directory D & J CONSTRUCTION Jim McDonald 519-887-9607 - COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE - COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0 (on the Westfield Rd.) 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Eating well means… • following Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating • enjoying a variety of different foods • emphasizing whole grain cereal, bread and other grain products, vegetables and fruit. • choosing lower fat dairy products, leaner meats, and foods prepared with little or no fat. • limiting intake of salt, alcohol and caffeine.