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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-05-13, Page 3District ur concer s {���'� _ is , ltH `il'oar.:s cf�1nsi of Health Unit e By Alan Rivett The Huron County Board of Health has yet to make any recommendations regar- ding a brief by health unit employees outlining some of their concerns which were presented to•the board at its April 15 meeting. The brief, outlining five specific problem areas in the health unit by approximately 50 staff members, was referred to in the Board of Health's report at the May 7 coun- cil meeting. Among the reported problem areas by the staff members are: little positive rein- forcemenNof staff from the board; no direct conunulcation on board decisions; the lack of a bVrktten policies and pro- cedures manual •lj'ur the health unit employees; the replacement of I)r. Harry Ceislar as the Medical Officer of Health ( MOH) which is both "extremely costly and hard to justify" ;' and staff resentment of Clerk Treasurer Bill Hanley's "active interference in personnel matters and in board decision-making responsibilities". However, both. Warden Brian McBurney and Board Chairman Grant Stirling 'say the staff concerns iii the brief will be ad- dressed at the next board meeting. "We haven't gone through them ( the concerns) as yet. We're going xo gladly discuss them at the next meeting. We want a better system with everyone in har- mony," said Mr. Stirling, reeve of GGoder•ich Township, following the council meeting. . Huron County Warden Brian MrRnrney refuted many of the staff concerns, saying that problems have arisen in the health unit because of the resentment following the departure of former MOH Dr. Harry Ceislar. -He (Dr. Ceislar) resigned because he couldn't work with the board of health. It's all in the past now and until they (the employees) accept that, then there will be problems," said Mr. McBurney after the council meeting. Mr. McBurney also said, at the time the staff issues were presented to the Board of Health in April, "quite a few ( employees hadn't been consulted on the brief" in- cluding many of the Home Care workers who are also employed under the Board of , health, In the brief, the staff claimed most deci- sions of the board are learned "via the media or through the grapevine" which filter through the staff resulting in "inac- curacies and increased stress". Mr. McBurney said the employees, as a rule, wouldn't receive decisions of the board from the board, as the three health unit directors on the board would be responsible for communicating decisions to staff. He felt the employees were "reluc- tant to go to their directors": "One of the directors said he wasn't aware of any problems with communica- tion ( between the board and the employees)," said Mr. McBurney, adding. that all Board of Health meetings are open and can be attended by the staff. • County fills MOH position By Alan Rivett • The Huron County Board of Health,has hired Dr. Maarten Bokhout, a New- foundland doctor, as the new Medical Of- ficer of Health ( MOH) for the county, council was advised at its regular meeting on May 7. Gocierich Township Reeve and Chair- man of the Board of Health Grant Stirling made the announcement • prior. to the reading of the board's report at the council session. Mr. Stirling reported the hiring of Dr. Bokhout would be effective on September 14 of this year. As for the terms of the hiring, the Off of health offered him a starting salary of $70,20.9 with regular employee benefits. Moving expenses to a maximum of $12,000 will also be paid by the board. The offer is also based on a five-year renewable contract. The MOH position in the County has been vacant since the departure. of Dr. Harry Ceislar in July' of 1986. ,Dr. .Tames McGregor of Wingham has filled in as the acting MOH since that time. ° According to Mr. Stirling, the new MOH was offered the position in , early April after an interview with the Board of Health in March. . "We were quite impressed with his presentation at the interview. And, in com- munications in April, he agreed to come to be the MOH for Huron' County. He also County receives 592,800 subsidy The Ontario Ministry of '1'r•anspor, rn and Communications hale confirmed that the province will provide up to $92,800 in sup- plementary subsidy to be used for the • engineering design of Ball's Bridge across .the Maitland River. Huron County.. has entered into an agree- ment with B.M. Ross and Associates Limited of Goderich ' to complete the engineering for the bridge and road con- struction. The. county is planning to start construction in 1988 if the Ministry of Transportation and Communications pro- vides additional subsidy rnoncy for the project. The bridge and road construction between' County Road 8 and the Colborne Township Road was estimated in 1985 to cost approx- imately $1,900,000. • Road Resurfacing ROAD RESURFACING The Council for the County of Huron has awarded contracts to Iavis Contracting Company I,imited of Clinton for the resur- facing of County Road 3 from Varna to Bayfield, County Road 31 from 1-1ills Green to Varna, and {.'ounty Road 8 from Sum- merhill to Auburn. The paving of County Roads 3 and 31 is ex-' pected to start in late May and be completed by the end of .July. Total cost of the work on these roads is estimated to be $920,000. The paving of County ROd 8 is expected to start near the end of July and be com- pleted by early September and will include paving in Auburn.•The estimated total cost of the paving is $720,000. HURON COUNTY SED PROJECT BEGINS Huron County SED Project Begins The County of Huron has finalized a con- tract with the Government of Canada for $90,000 to assist in job development ol3por- tunities for people with long-term unemployment problems. The program,' referred to as a SED Project ( Severely Employment Disadvantaged 1, began on May.1 and will employ five people in a study to identify groups of individuals in need of special assistance in finding long term employment and identify job opportunities in conjunction with the business community of Huron County. • The project is an eight month co-operative program between the Huron County Depart- ment of Planning and Development and the Canada Employment Centre in Huron Coun- ty. Through the study phase, an operational project will be developed to provide training ' and employment opportunities to employ- ment disadvantaged groups throughout Huron County on a long term basis. r 'The project office will be located in Seaforth and should be in full operation by June 1. knows how the health system works," said Mr. Stirling. Dr. Bokhout, 35, received his medical training in Ontario before • working on a two-year contract with the Newfoundland government in public health. He also has a master's degree in public health. • erin pl gees Health unit staff members are also con- cerned about the lack of a written policies and procedures manual for the health unit. As there is no clear definition of health unit and county policies, it has led to conflicts. "We are expected to conform to 'County Policy', but have no access to such written. references. Even when policies are pro- mised they fail to be produced and con- troversies. go unresolved", the brief stated. Mr. McBurney says a policy guide specifically for the health unit has been discussed in the past, but it has not .pro- gressed beyond that point. "It's one thing we have been looking in- to, then something else.comes up which we feel is more important," said Mr. McBurney. As for accusations by he.alth unit staff toward Mr. Hanley's interference in health board decisions, Mr. McBurney says the claims are unfounded. No such problem of interference currently exists between the Board of Health and Mr. Hanley. "He (Mr. Hanley) doesn't make the decisions. The board has asked him to clarify some things on occasion - which may make them assume he's running things. But, that's not the- way it is," he said. • The staff also felt there was a lack of positive re-inforcement by. the board, although the health unit staff "has a reputation among our peers for programs which are innovative. al progressive", the brief stated. Mr. McBurney says the staff, perhaps, . feel the board doesn't get involved in. the day-to-day operations. But, because of time constraints,rviewing of the operations of the health unit is not possible: Also, Mr. McBurney says staff com- plaint may have something to do with salary negotiations carried out by the board. "It goes back to money. Some may have 'thought they didn't get the money they should have during negotiations," he said. GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR. WEUNESLAY.'MAY 13, 1987 BOOK GIFT SHO Just off the Square on East Street„ Beside the Post Office. Your Community Card Shop •Greeting Cordq •Forty Wore ••Offko Supplies Books & G14ts •Wedding Stotlonery PAGE :3 PARTIC/PACT/ON MAKES PERFECT Exeter Minor Hockey invites you to enjoy an )(ewildf ((((7/ - ///F' - /(04/4 )1: le Haw 1.116 and WHISKEY JACK SATURDAY, Y 23 South Huron Rec. 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