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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-02-13, Page 1Automotive Engineer Elijah Bailey of the 1st Blyth Cubs studies his Kub Kar intently as he tries to decide on those final styling touches. The pack was on a winter camp at the Londesboro Community Hall _last weekend and building their racing machines was just one of many projects. (David Blaney photo) Assault victim dies The Huron OPP announced on Monday that a 73 year-old Gorrie man, William Heibein, was in custody after the death in hospital of Sharon Evans. The OPP had been informed of a possible assault by ambulance attendants who answered a call early last Thursday morning. At that time officers learned that the 57 year-old Evans, who lived with Heibein, had been taken to Wingham and District Hospital for treatment. Evans was later transferred to the Victoria Hospital in London by air ambulance. She died in the Critical Care Unit in the early evening of Friday, Feb. 8. The investigation into her death is being continued by the Huron County OPP Crime Unit under the supervision of the Criminal Investigation Branch. Heibein, who was originally charged with aggravated assault, is being held in custody until his next court appearance. NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. Inside this week Pg. 2 Pg. 7 Presbyterial meets in Brussels Venturers do high- flying project Pg 8 pages of financial tips n Teams take Pg. 10 playoff games Special bridal Pg. 15 section begins e Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and 'northern Huron County ___111111.1111 Volume 18 No. 6 Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) ounty pushes report suggestion Survey gets mixed results Blyth business owners appreciate the work of the Blyth Business Association (BBA), but declare that much more needs to be done to spur economic activity. These are just two of the findings from a survey of business owners in and around Blyth. The survey asked business owners and managers for their opinions of the BBA's effectiveness, the value of its recent and current activities, and what they felt the priorities should be for the future ef business in the community. In its January meeting the BBA reviewed the survey results to determine whether the association should consider changes in its operations. Traditionally, the BBA has focused most of its efforts on retail promotion and downtown main street beautification. The idea for getting involved in the Communities in Bloom program emerged from the BBA. Respondents to the survey gave full marks to the association for these activities. At the same time, many local business people .feel that there is a need for more strategic thinking about broader economic development issues, looking farther ahead, and delving more deeply into the opportunities and threats to Blyth's level of prosperity. They say that a comprehensive business plan for the community is needed. The question is whether the BBA is the appropriate body to take on this broader agenda. In the end, the meeting decided that the BBA by itself lacks the human and financial resources to take on any major new challenges, and that the Twp. of North Huron with the help of its Economic Development Committee should provide leadership in this area, and that the local businesses which are not active in the BBA need to be involved as well. One suggestion was that the township be encouraged to hire an economic development officer as Huron East has decided to do. It was also suggested that the BBA should lend its full support to these efforts. In the meantime, the BBA will continue to work hard much as it has in the past on those things that it does well. By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Huron County councillors, Thursday, pushed through a motion that will implement one of the recommendations in the Hugh Thomas report in the county's administration. After it was announced early in the February meeting of council that Cathie Brown, the county's human resources officer, was leaving to take a job with The Ontario Rural Council, authorization was given to place advertisements for a replacement. But Goderich Councillor Deb Shewfelt surprised council by making a motion, seconded by Keith Johnston of Morris-Tumberry, that the position be advertised as a department head and that county policies be rewritten to reflect this change. (Brown was not a department head.) He pointed out the Thomas report had recommended hiring a professional human relations officer as a department head, answering to council. Warden Ben Van Diepenbeek, taken by surprise by the motion, said he felt it was premature since he had planned to bring the subject of what council wanted from the human resource officer at committee meetings over the next month. "Do we want an ombudsman or a human resources person," he wondered. Carol Mitchell of Central Huron wondered about the cost implications of hiring a department head and Clerk-Administrator Lynn Murray said generally it increased the cost, not just in added salary but in additional staff. But South Huron Councillor Rob Morley objected that there wouldn't be all that much cost difference since Brown had been a department head in charge of the Homes for the Aged before she was transferred to the human resources job and so carried that level of remuneration with her to the new job. Howick Councillor Norm Fairies worried that taking human resources issues outside of a department might mean problems weren't dealt with at the department level as they should be. Mitchell asked Shewfelt if he thought employees would be likely to talk freely to a human resources person if she/he was to report directly to council as he proposed. But Shewfelt said hiring a human resources person in a department head position would be one step toward building good faith with the county's 675 employees, many of whom had expressed unhappiness to Thomas over their current employment conditions.. "If you're getting the calls the way I have over the past week, a step forward would be to get a department head (for human resources). Common sense should take over after that," Shewfelt said. For those worried about costs, Shewfelt noted that the county had probably spent $200,000-$300,000 in legal fees before courts and labour tribunals in the past few years, expenses that might have been avoided if the situation had been handled properly by ti human resources expert. Goderich Councillor Eller Connelly agreed "human resources is so important that it needs to he 2 department head. If you look at other businesses-these people are not just 2 member of staff." But in supporting a motion from Fairies to table the Shewfelt motion. Mitchell said she felt more discussion was needed at the committee level. "It's a huge. fundamental shift," she said, arguing against reacting to a "perceived' problem. Bluewater Councillor Bill Dowsor said he was uncomfortable supporting Shewfelt's motion because he felt there was information councillors weren't getting at that meeting. But Morley argued that everyone who would be at the committee meetings was already at the council meeting. "We're big people, we car say it." In the long run, Fairies' tabling motion was defeated 11-6 and the original motion to advertise for 2 department head was approved 13-4. The issue of Thomas's report wasn't about to go away, however. Earlier Shewfelt and Van Diepenbeek had clashed over a meeting the warden held with the heads of the committees after Thomas. deliverec his report on Jan. 11. Shewfelt askec who had attended the meeting. Van Diepenbeek defended his right to consult with the heads of the council committees. Shewfelt said he didn't question the right of the warder to hold the meeting but "What l'rr talking about is the perception that there was a private meeting. Is there 2 perception that the document was gone over before the committee of the whole, -which commissioned the report, received it?" Later, Morley asked if there hat been a meeting between the warden Murray and non-union staff to discuss the report. Murray said there had been such meeting at which staff were giver copies of the report, which makes 13 recommendations for changes it county structure and policies, one asked if they had any questions. But Morley argued staff were intimidated by the meeting. "1 think you've put people in a difficult position. I think it was inappropriate.' "The characterization you're putting on this (meeting) is wrong,' Murray argued back. "It was not threatening. We wanted to make sure they had the right information." "That's not my perception or staff's perception," Morley retorted. Morley said he understood the warden and Murray hadn't met witl- staff at other times but Murray saic such meetings are held once a month. Mitchell wondered if employees read copies of the report and hoc questions, who they were supposed tc speak to, if meetings such as that helc by the warden and clerk-administrator weren't held. Bluewater Councillor Paul Klopi said he thought the tact staff were asked to sign up to get copies of the Thomas report put r rffssure or people. (Murray said they were asked tc sign for copies to keep dowr duplication of the report and the cost of photocopying.) •