HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-11-09, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1988.
Huronview layoffs Walton
bring County debate Compiled by Mrs. Betty McCall. Phone 887-6677
650 fed at Walton supper
A second cutback in staff at
Huronview, the Huron County home
for the aged, sparked a debate about
the quality of care being provided at
the home when County Council met
Thursday.
The debate was spurred by the
appearance of a group of Huronview
employees, apparently unauthoriz-
edby theirunion, before council.
Marilyn Reidy of Brucefield, a
spokesperson for the employees said
the staff members were not allowed
to attend an Oct. 28 meeting
between the Huronview Committee
of Management and representatives
of the Service Employees Union
Local 210 so they wanted a chance to
tell about what they felt would be
hardshipsfor residentsand staff due
to the closing of one wing of the
home. Lossy Fuller, Deputy Reeve of
Exeter and chairman of the Commit
tee of Management said the decision
on who should attend that meeting
had been made by the union
representative, herself and Bill
Hanly, the county’s clerk-treasurer.
It wou Id have cost too much for all the
employees to be present, she said.
Deputy-reeve Fuller said the
declining population at Huronview
made the closing of the wing
necessary. There were only 19
people in the 52-bed residential wing
known as “Summerhill” she said.
“There is no way you would keep a
wing open for that number.”
Huronview had earlier made cut
backs, mostly in terms of hours
worked, in July.
Wayne Lester, administrator for
the home told council that the
cutbacks were necessary to keep a
deficit that is already a fact from
becoming even larger. While a
revenue and expense survey to Sept.
30 showed expenses $16,800 below
budget, the revenue side was
$222,703 below that forecast for the
period. The losses will mean the
provincewouldhavetopickup an
extra $105,452 more than expected
and the county $99,327 more than
expected, he said.
Mr. Lester said that with Huron
County having suchfine programs to
keep people in their homes longer,
the number of people seeking to
enter Hurorview has dropped dras
tically. Even with the Summerhill
wing closed there will still be room
for 265 residents with only 242
people currently living in the home.
None of the 181 extended care beds
will be closed.
He said the cutbacks in staff there
will still be the ratio recommended of
one staff member for each 20
residents.
But Mrs. Reidy disagreed in her
presentation. She said there is not
enough help on some shifts for the
extra load brought about by the
health of some of the residents. She
criticized the reduction to only one
hairdresser for all the residents
saying this is important to make
people feel good about themselves.
She complained that there is no
cleaning staff on duty after 3p.m. so
that any cleanup must wait for the
next morning. She said residents are
upsetaboutbeing moved from an
environment they’re used to to
another part of the large complex.
U nder questioning of John Doher
ty, deputy-reeve of Goderich, Mr.
Lester said that the move for the
residentswas very traumatic. He
said that one of the problems with
the current Huronview set up is that
patients must move several times
during their stay. If they live in
residential care and get sicker they
must be moved to extended care and
there may be several moves along
the way. Still, he said, moving the
residents to a newer wing will give
them a better atmosphere.
Mrs. Reidy said that residents at
the home had been warned if they
complained they would be punished.
Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle asked if she
had proof of the accusation but
Goderich Township Reeve Grant
Stirling said he had a signed letter
from a resident who said that she had
been told if she didn’t keep quiet she
would be moved up to the second
floor.
Later in the day Clarence Rau,
Reeve of Stanley asked Mr. Lester if
he was aware of the charge from the
resident that she was threatened.
Mr. Lester said he had been made
aware the previous Friday that the
letter had been written and he had
been aware a long time ago that the
individual was preparing the letter.
“All I know is what she said and what
she has stated to staff. If the threat
did happen the staff member
handled it the wrong way,” he said
but he added the staff member who
was accused of making the threat
was not available to tell her side of
the story.
Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston
asked that the charges be looked intq
and Mr. Lester report back to the
next meeting of council.
Mr. Lester came under heavy fire
from Reeve Johnston, later when he
was unable to provide projections of
how much the staff cuts would mean
next year. Reeve Johnston wonder
ed if it was worth stirring up ill
feelings among both residents and
staff if the layoffs and wing-closing
wasn’t going to solve the problem of
losses. When Mr. Lester said he
didn’t have the figures about how
much the cuts would save Mr.
Johnston said he should be able to
give a ballpark figure by simply
multiplying the number of hours
saved by the hourly wages of the
people laid off.
The annual turkey supper at
Duff’s Church was well attended
when approximately 650 people
were fed last Wednesday evening.
There were over 125 take outs made
up.
Rev. Charles Swan former mini
ster here, was in the village last
week. At present he is preaching at
Palmerrapids in north-eastern On
tario.
Harold Hugill of Seaforth visited
over Saturday night with Chris
Stevenson, celebrating his 12th
birthday.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Currie and
James, Brampton called on Mr. and
Mrs. Allan McCall on Sunday after
spending Saturday and overnight in
Blyth with relatives and friends.
Mrs. Marjory Humphries attend
ed the two day sessions of the area
convention at Maryhill last week.
Craigs mark
45 years
married
Sherrill and Robert Christian,
Delaware U.S.A. were home on the
weekend to help her parents Mar
garet and Harvey Craig celebrate
their 45th wedding anniversary.
Others joining them on Saturday
evening were Helen and Graeme
Craig, Michael and Shannon; Rober
ta and John Simpson, Brussels;
Isabelle and Bill Craig, Blyth;
Carmen Craig, Blyth; Annie Wight,
Listowel; Ruth and Gordon Craig,
Guelph; Ada Craig and Olive Faitz,
Stoney Creek. '
IN ASHFIELD, WEST and EAST WAWANOSH
Tony, Rachel, Fran & Katie McQuail
RE-ELECT
Tony
McQuail
November 14, 1988
*Experienced Trustee
* Concerned Parent
*Cost Conscious Ratepayer
* Effective Spokesman
* Hardworking & Accessible
TONY McQUAIL
1 OR SCHOOL TRUSTEE
‘ ‘A lifelong
commitment
to Brussels”
GREG
WILSON
FORdOUNCIL
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For helpful and friendly service call
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FOODS
887-9740
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