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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-04-20, Page 5County council endorses BY BILL HENRY Huron County Council's vote to endorse a controversial provincial government report which calls for sweeping changes to the county government system is a hint of how such changes could lead to regionaliza- tion, say the report's opponents. "The local municipalities are going to be subservient to the county," predicted Ex- eter Reeve Bill Mickle following the meeting. "It's that's really too bad." Mickle said the 22-9 majority vote shows how easily county government could "take over" services now being provided by municipalities. Among the recommenda- tions approved last week is one that gives counties that right, with a two-thirds majority. It was Mickle who spoke most loudly dur- ing the meeting, not against the entire report but against the way council was deal- ing with it. He urged that each of the 36 recommendations be debated independently. Instead, council approved all but the first, which asks for a review of `very small municipalities and separated municipalities." In another, also -recorded vote, Huron County adhered to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's position that any review of small municipalities and related problems should be done at another time. The split more -or -less aligned town representatives against passing recommen- dations two through 36, while rfiost municipality reprtesentatives were in favor of the report. But there were extreme opinions as well. "I'm opposed pretty well to every recom- mendation that's in this report," said Goderich Deputy -Reeve John Doherty. "I couldn't vote in favor of any recomendation in this report right now." Bayfield Reeve David Johnston said he favored much of the report, but did not want recomendation one to be ignored. "I don't want number one defeated...I want a motion included that small is not any municipality in Huron County," he said. "My argument is that it is part and parcel of the entire report" and can't be ignored. Chief among other changes the report sug- gests is that heads of local councils be re - Corrected version In an article about the 'members of Seaforth Town Council, which appeared in last week's Huron Expositor, two errors were made. Councillor Peg Campbell, did not as stated, found the Jack 'n' Jill Store, it was Peg Ellis. And, the deputy -reeve does not take over for the reeve at county council, on any occasion. Our apologies for these errors and any in- convenience and/or embarrassment they might have caused. There was a mistake in the story about the Cancer Society which appeared in the April 13 edition of The Huron Expositor. The Loan Cupboard does not supply beds of wheelchairs or night tables, but rather such items as air mattresses, and sheepskin underpads for beds - things that will make the cancer patient more comfortable at home. Our apologies for this error and for any embarrassment or inconvenience it might have caused. controversial report quired to sit at the county level. Currently, reeves and deputy reeves represent towns and some have argued that the extra time required by a mayor at the county level would deter quality candidates from seek- ing the office. Colborne Reeve Russell Kernighan said Monday he agreed town councils have "a legitimate concern", but added it should best be resolved at their own tables, with their own resolution going to the provincial task force now reviewing reaction to the document. From both a county perspective and a rural representative's viewpoint, he said he saw nothing wrong with the report. "If I had my druthers, I wouldn't do anything (in the *ay of change)...But if the province is planning to change things, we have to be ready for whatever's coming," he said. Kernighan also said he was surprised to see the report approved by council. "I thought they'd be dead set against it." But Warden Bob Bell said he fully ex- pected the document to pass, and was in fact surprised at the calls for further detailed debate. "I really didn't know where some of them were coming from," he said Tuesday. "The majority of the report is a very favorable report." Bell said he sees no danger of increased regionalization threatening the autonomy of member municipalities. "I see this, if anything, as more Remissive," he said, ad- ding most of the recommendations approv- ed last week would be optional if im- plemented by the provincial government. He also said he could see no point prolong- ing debate over the issue by discussing each recomendation, since council wanted to react quickly enough to let the province im- plement changes prior to this fall's municipal elections. Bell also said not calling for a formal vote on Mickle's motion for individual debate was an oversight. But the 22-9 decisions later recorded, he said, indicate how that vote would likely have ended. Reading from a prepared statement dur- ing the council session, Mickle told members that accepting the report would lead to "an outside, remote government dic- tating the future of your municipality." "Do you want to accelerate tax increases? History shows that that has happened when largesse sets in." He also said Exeter council has opposed the report and that endorsing it is an abdica- tion of responsibility to member com- munities, and that citizens have not even asked for change on the issue. "As far as I'm concerned, it shows the determination to railroad something through," he said outside the meeting. "The county wants to ram it through before anybody understands it." Both Bell and Kernighan, wilco.. were among those in favor, admitted there are points throughout the document that remain unclear, even to county representatives who were at a council discussion last month. But both said the overall report seems positive. "I thought we got most of the questions answered," he said. Some councillors also said that when they took the report back to their local councils, there was no reaction, for or against. When the votes were recorded, the following were in favor both of endorsing recommendations two through 36, and of asking that number one, which refers to but does not define "small municipaities," be scrapped: Leona Armstrong (Grey Township), Bob Bell (Warden- Tuckersmith), William Bennett (Seaforth), Laurie Cox (Goderich Township Deputy), Cecil Cranston (West Wawanosh), Tom Cunningham (Hullett), Claire Deichert (Hay), Robert Fisher (Zurich), Douglas Fraser (Morris), Allan Gibson (Ashfield), Marie Hicknell (McKillop), Russell Ker- nighan (Colborne), Bruce Machan (Wingham), Brian McBurney (Turnberry), Gerry Prout (Usborne), Clarence Rau (Stanley), Ernest Snell (East Wawanosh), Grant Stirling .(Goderich Township), Albert Wasson (Blyth), Lional Wilder (Hay) and Gordon Workman (Brussels). Those against were Bee Cooke (Clinton), Lossy Fuller (Exeter Deputy), David Johnston (Bayfield), Ken McCann (Stephen Deputy), Bill Mickle (Exeter), Tom Tomes (Stephan) and Harry Worsell (Goderich, two votes against). Jim Robinson (H sall) was absent. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 20, 1988 — 5 T.; I it t�:..,:: ';ot';�:�;,; I HEALTH ON THE HILI A series of hi -weekly reviews of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Diabetic Education Classes Held The hospital has been offering a two day course for diabetics; the most recent having been April 5 and 6 when 11 people were in attendance. The courses, about two a year, are under the direction of a nurse and dietition. Self-care topics include eating and cooking the diabetic way, foot care, travelling, problem solving and days of illness. A summary of a recent study "Report on Diabetes in Ontario" emphasizes that approximately 540,000 individuals in Ontario are affected wtttij)iabetes Mellitus and this number will increase in conjunction with the aging population. Those with diabetes are hospitalized 21/2 times more frequently than the general population (5 times more frequently for children with the disease). The emphasis on treatment must include education in self-care techniques, to maximize continued health and aid an independent life-style for the diabetic. Palliative Care - Totally Volunteer Registration closes May 2 for the program on May 25 and 26 when the Seaforth Palliative Care Volunteer present John Cassis, minister and motivational speaker who will discuss "Developing Mental Tbughness" and "How to Soar Like an Eagle". Grace Dolmage at the hospital has further details. New addition will improve service Construction of the new addition to Seaforth Community Hospital which will be under way shortly, will do much to eliminate the concerns indicated in a recent audit commissioned by the Ontario Hospital Association on consumer satisfaction with emergency departments. The audit, carried out last year for OHA identifies public use and perceptions of emergency departments, and recommends solutions to pro- blems detected. Focusing on the experiences of emergency department patients from 16 hospitals in southwestern Ontario, including Seaforth, the audit identified that emergency departments are busiest between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. And although the degree of public satisfaction for this service is "extremely high", waiting time is the principle public concern. Public perception over the appropriateness or role of a hospital emergency depart- ment was also revealed. Some respondents felt it was only for life threatening emergencies while others said an emergency department was an alternative source for care to that of a doctor's office. Public perception was also unclear on patient treatment priorities. In fact, one third of respondenta,believe that seriousness of con- dition is not a factor and that order of arrival is how the system works. RAY'S FAMILY MARKET Egmondvllle .89 1.5 Litre Plus tax & deposit White Swan Paper Towels 2 Roll Package .79 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MON. - SAT. 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. SUN. 12:30 - 10:00 p.m. White Swan ' Philadelphia Bathroom 2 Tissue 8 Roll Package .99 Cream Cheese. 250 g 1.79 MOCK COUNCIL MEETING - Grade 7 and '8 students from Seaforth Public School and St. James School were part of a mock council meeting held Friday by the Town of Seaforth in conjunction with Local Government Week. Councillors,Susan Roweliffe, Tracy Fortune, Kevin Cardno, Jason Beuttenmiller, Renee Devereatht, Dan Blake and Loretta Nott answered a petition from Sassy (Paul Ross) and Sophie, main street mer- chants whose business is being adversely affected by the kids hanging out on the streets. After other alternatives were shot down, and after hearing from Police Chief Hal Claus, council decided the same way as the original council did some months ago. They asked the local police to do more to keep the kids from loitering on Seaforth's Main Street. Mcllwraith photo. Celebrate Diamond Month with A BRILLIANT PROPOSAL is SPECIAL IN TO ENTER: Print your name, address and phone number on the back of your cash register receipt and deposit in box. Winners To Be Drawn Saturday, May 7 SPONSORED BY THE SEAFORTH BIA MERCHANTS 3 GREAT \- PRIZES FOR MOM She's wonderful, unique, special. She's a woman who deserves nothing less than an ANSTETT DIAMOND. ANSTETT DIAMONDS, CHOSEN FOR THEIR MATCHLESS FIRE and BEAUTY. An ANSTETT DIAMOND, it's the diamond that says I LOVE YOU ... brilliantly! '3 MONTHS HOUSECLEANING Half Day A Week For 3 Months *ONE NIGHT'S LODGING AND A CANDLELIGHT DINNER AT HOLMSTED HOUSE ®DINNER FOR TWO Maximum 30.00. Your choice of restaurant in Seaforth ANSTETT JEWELLERS SPECIALISTS 8 Albert St. SINCE 1950CLINTON 284 Main St., EXETER 26 Main St. S., SEAFORTH 135 Queen St. East, ST. MARYS 203 Durham St. E.. WALKERTON 2 The Square, GODERICH