HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-06-09, Page 9All 14 Brussels Fire Department
volunteers will get hepatitis shots
to protect them from infection
while on the job, Brussels village
councillors decided Monday night.
Aging BMG arena
needs minor repairs
The shots had been recommend-
ed because of the danger of firemen
being infected during rescue work
when there may be blood from
infected people. "People are on call
Golden moment
Brussels Reeve Gordon Workman, (left) presents a gold
watch to retired Fire Chief Howard Bernard Monday night
at the Brussels village council meeting.The watch is
engraved in honour of Chief Bernard's more than 30 years
of service to the fire department.
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1993. PAGE 9.
County takes Centralia protest to the top
Huron County will attempt to
take its protest over the closing of
Centralia College of Agricultural
Technology right to the top.
County councillors Thursday
approved a resolution calling for a
moratorium on any decision about
closing, then agreed it should be
delivered in person to Premier Bob
Rae, Treasurer Floyd Laughren and
Minister of Agriculture and Food
Elmer Buchanan.
The County's resolution comes
amid an escalating protest over the
closing. Friday the townships of
Stephen and Bosanquet and the
Village of Grand Bend called for a
Huron County can hold informa-
tion in its archives but can anybody
read it? That was a question dis-
cussed at Huron County Council
June 3.
The archives holds school
records which a researcher for a
Hay township history wants to have
access to. Claus Breede, dir-
ector/curator of the Huron County
Museum, however, says he wants a
ruling from the Freedom of Infor-
mation panel before allowing the
There are no serious structural
problems at the Brussels, Morris
and Grey Community Centre but
some minor work needs to be done,
an engineer's report to the BM & G
Recreation committee says.
Art Clark, engineer with Mait-
land Engineering Services Ltd. in
Wingham reported some minor rust
problems on the main rigid frames.
The areas, he said, should be wire
brushed and painted. In addition he
noticed cracking of cement blocks
in several places. The cracking is
not new and has been repaired but
should be watched, Mr. Clark said.
six-month freeze on the move
toward closing of the college.
The importance of slowing the
closing process was explained by
George Thompson, chairman of the
Friends of Centralia, a group of
supporters of the college organized
after the announcement of the col-
lege's scheduled closing May 1,
1994. Mr. Thompson said the com-
munity could take over running of
programs at the college but already
the college is being "cannibalized"
as equipment is being taken out of
the buildings. By the time the clo-
sure comes there will be nothing
but three empty buildings, he said.
The Friends of Centralia disputes
researcher to see the records. The
problem, he said, is the Freedom of
Information and Right to Privacy
Act which makes it an offence for
public agencies to release private
information.
The records were given to the
archives by the Huron County
Board of Education. Bob Allen,
director of education, has given his
permission for the records to be
opened but "who is the culprit if it's
found out later that this is in viola-
On the exterior, blocks in several
places need to be repointed,
recaulked and cracks should be
filled. None of these represent
structural problems.
Mr. Clark warned the committee
however that the building is now
15 years old and some of the equip-
ment is getting to the age where
major repairs could be needed. He
urged that money be set aside for
possible repairs. The committee
already has a substantial capital
reserve set aside for such contin-
gencies.
the $3.5 million in savings the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (OMAF) has said the closure
will bring. For one thing, they say,
money OMAF saves in closure will
just be shifted to a different govern-
ment agency, the Ontario Develop-
ment Corporation. ODC owns the
buildings the college has occupied
and will pick up an additional
$175,000 in expenses for the empty
buildings.
Mr. Thompson also said the
move of the Veterinary Technology
program to Ridgetown College will
necessitate the building of a new $4
million building to house the pro-
tion of the Act," Breede says. If the
county releases the records is it vio-
lating the privacy of people includ-
ed in the records?
"We're just trying to protect
council to a charge it there is a
problem down the line. Believe me
it is not the museum or the county
that is restricting access, it's the
legislation."
He warned that the same rules of
privacy are in effect for all munici-
palities.
to accidents, doing first aid and
CPR. They can't refuse to report to
a call," retired Fire Chief Howard
Bernard told council. The cost of
the series of three shots is estimated
at $60 per fireman.
Council will also resurrect an old
directive that all firemen take regu-
lar medicals to make sure they are
fit for their strenuous work. Chief
Bernard said the medicals had been
requited by council many years ago
but the practice had fallen by the
wayside.
The difficulty now is that medi-
cals required for job purposes are
no longer covered under govern-
ment medical insurance. Estimates
of cost range from $25 to $95
depending on the doctor. While it
was suggested that a package deal
be worked out with one doctor to
do all the medicals Chief Bernard
pointed out most firemen would be
more comfortable using their own
doctor.
"If they need the shots and medi-
cals we have to pay for it," Coun-
cillor Greg Wilson said.
Councillors suggested an upper
limit might have to be set on the
cost of the medicals.
Councillor Dave Hastings point-
ed out the money for this medical
work would have to come out of
the fire department budget. With
government cutbacks council could
not fmd extra money to cover the
potential $1500 to $1600 in costs,
he said.
Council will save money in one
area it was worried about. After
hearing rumours that new helmets
might have to be bought for all fire-
men to meet new government stan-
dards, council received written
assurance that helmets that meet
the old standard and are properly
maintained may still be used.
Meanwhile Murray McArter,
new Brussels fire chief pointed out
to council a potential parking prob-
lem near the firehall with the added
traffic in the area because of the
new bank and the expanded IGA
store. To give firemen parking in
case of an emergency "no parking"
signs will be extended on the north
side of Thomas Street from the fire-
hall to Elizabeth St. This will also
allow firemen to park on the vacant
lot west of the fire hall.
gram. There will also be no savings
in salariespf the program's staff if
they are shifted to Ridgetown.
The closure will cost the local
economy $21.8 million, the com-
mittee estimates, from a direct loss
of 69 jobs, through spin-off jobs
and loss for the agricultural econo-
my because facilities like the Vet-
erinary Lab will no longer be able
to aid the local livestock industry in
the most concentrated livestock
area in Ontario.
In addition the research farm at
Centralia, which concentrates on
uniquely local crops like white
beans and rutabagas, is scheduled
to become a satellite of the
Ridgetown operation. If there are
further funding cuts Mr. Thompson
questioned the likelihood of
Ridgetown continuing the satellite
facility. "I don't believe Ridgetown
has a commitment to this area."
Meanwhile a group of students
have launched a law suit for breach
of contract with the province. The
students, Mr. Thompson said, have
signed letters of acceptance at the
college and had already given
money to hold their places when
the closure was announced. A
judge will hear the suit on June 28.
That date is important because it
will slow the closure process, Mr.
Thompson said. There are many
areas of the college that can be self-
sustaining and if it is left intact
there is the possibility a'local group
could run the facility. The college's
conference centre had a $200,000
profit in its first year. Continuing
education returned $300,000 in its
best year. More of this kind of self-
sustaining funding could be carried
on but only if the college is left
intact. Already some staff has been
redeployed, Mr. Thompson said.
Privacy Act raises questions
Brussels firefighters get needle