The Huron Expositor, 1994-12-21, Page 9News and Views
Mitchell choice not biased:
BY TIM GUMMING
Expositor Editor
There were no deals made to put
the District Health Council (DHC)
office in Mitchell, says the
chairperson of the site selection
committee.
"I can say unequivocally there
wasn't," said Diane Aitken, of the
Clinton area.
The suggestion was made at a
Seaforth Council meeting that
Mitchell was chosen as the host site
in exchange for equal representation
for Huron and Perth on the District
Health Council. (Perth has a higher
population but has 10 seats on the
DHC, the same as less -populous
Huron).
There are a number of rumours
circulating about the site selection
process, said Aitken. Seaforth
Council, for instance, wrote a vocal
letter criticizing what it perceived to
be a hasty decision by the commit-
tee when it selected the DHC office
site.
The committee selected three
Perth County sites: Mitchell as first
choice, followed by second choice
Dublin and third choice Stratford.
The chairperson of the site selec-
tion committee, however, says
Mitchell was not a preordained
choice for the location of the DHC.
"There was obviously some mis-
Council wants
site selection
process explained
Seaforth Council still isn't
satisfied the site selection process
that led to the Huron -Perth District
Health Council's recent decision to
locate its new office in Mitchell
was on the up and up.
Council decided at Tuesday
night's regular meeting to take
Health Council Chair Jeff Wilbee
and site -selection committee Chair
Diane Aitken up on the offer to
attend the next town council
meeting for some explanations.
Council is concerned with
prevalent rumours of behind -the -
scenes political dealing between
Perth and Huron representatives on
the Health Council that led to the
decision, and said it still hasn't
received copies of the successfuL-4
Mitchell proposal as requested.
"Unprofessional," is how Coun.
Brian Ferguson summed up
Seaforth's feelings about the
process.
In response to a testy letter
voicing its concerns sent by
Seaforth Council after its regular
November meeting, Wilbee replied
in a letter from the District Health
Council that: "At the October 27th
meeting the (Health) Council, with
onp abstention, unanimously voted
to accept the Site Selection
Committee's recommendations.
"Your letter states, suggesting that
the criteria was not the framework
for the decision," the health chair's
correspondence continues. "Let me
assure you, sir, that your statement
is not based on fact. Both the Town
of Seaforth Council and the Huron
District Health Council exist to
serve the citizens of our area. I
suggest that sometimes in these
matters there can be mis-
communications and mis-
understandings."
understanding about what had gone
on," she said. "There are bound to
be winners and losers (but) we took
our responsibilities very seriously."
The Site Selection Committee
made its decision within a day of
receiving the final questionnaire
from municipalities seeking the site.
Aitken says this final step was
'filling in the blanks' and the com-
mittee had enough information to
make an informed choice.
"We already had 99 per cent of
the information we needed," she
said. "In most cases it was just a
matter of filling in what we didn't
already know."
She refutes Seaforth's charge that
the site selection committee ignored
its own selection criteria.
After consultation with the public
the committee decided its two-page
list of selection criteria would
require that the host site be along
the Highway 8 corridor and be
located in an existing facility.
The choice of Stratford as a
potential alternate site met the
committee's criteria, according to
Aitken.
"It is central in terms of the popu-
lation base, for people coming in
from outside," she said, adding that
it is not necessarily geographically
central. "There was a very strong
lobby mounted for Stratford as first
choice."
Mitchell did have identifiable
buildings available in their proposal,
she said.
In November of 1993, at a joint
meeting of Huron and Perth DHC
Steering Committees, Goderich's
Ken Englestad suggested Mitchell
would be a good choice to host the
DHC because it is fairly central and
doesn't have a major health facility
(eg., hospital).
Aitken said that wasn't the main
reason Mitchell was chosen to host
the DHC.
Aitken
"That never came up as a specific
point in our deliberations," she said.
"It possibly affected how some of
the people felt but it didn't become
the major point."
At a meeting of the Steering
Committees former Perth County
Warden Bob McTavish proposed an
equal split of 10 members each for
Perth and Huron, instead of an 11-9
ratio in Perth's favour (due to its
greater population). McTavish sug-
gested that Mitchell be site of the
office since the DHC is officially
called Huron -Perth (due to it coin
flip).
Aitken said she was not aware of
the details of Steering Committee
meetings which were held prior to
her committee's formation and was
not influenced by those discussions.
Some misunderstandings could
have been cleared up, said Aitken,
if Seaforth Council had talked to
members of the Site Selection Com-
mittee.
c-DASHWOOD
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
904
Happy Holidays
Thanks to our
customers and friends
for your patronage.
We look forward to serving you
In the New Year
Scott Cooper
Alpine Plant
Foods Limited
P.O. Box 730, New Homburg,
Ont.
Call Scott Cooper 263.6108,
Mobile e71.0743
1
t4tit
FROM ALLIQF US AT D&D GLASS AND
DASHWOdD WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
FRONT ROW L -R: Marg Dale, Mary Ellen Webster,
Beth Consitt, Marg Miller
BACK ROW L -R: Rick Parsons, Don Mantey, Dave
Miller, John Moore, Clarence Ferguson, Tony Van
Dyke, Web Stone INSET LEFT: Scott Ducharme
IS
DOORS
SIDING...
Ye 232 . RR S
LINTON. ONT NOY ILO
1,, AVENUE, VANA•TUA)
ML
SERVICE
INSTALLATION
482-7869
dIB DAS H WO O D
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
/90 .43" Thames Rd. East EXETER 235-0390
TME HURON EXPOSITOR, December 21, 19e4-11
HEALTH ON THE HILL
SEASON'S GREETINGS
FROM ALL THE STAFF AT
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
As the jubilant season of Christmas and the promise of another year
.approaches, we wish to extend to the community our warmest good
wishes. At this time of year it is good to reflect on the activities of
the past months while appreciating the holiday season. Indeed, we
thank everyone for the warmth and spirit shown to our hospital and
together look forward to a new year of peace, goodwill and happi-
ness.
Nursing Staff gratefully acknowledge all those who supported the
recent Porcelain Doll Draw. The handcrafted doll was made and
donated by Marion Kernighan. Proceeds of the draw will go
towards the purchase of patient needs. Lucky winner was Hazel
Hildebrand. Congratulations Hazel!
Perinatal Information Session previously scheduled for
Wednesday, December 21 has been cancelled. Please watch for
upcoming session details in the New Year.
Heart to Heart Program: A new program, sponsored by the Heart &
Stroke Association is set to begin. Heart to Heart ,is an eight week
learning program for post cardiac patients and their spouse/friend
or family member. Each session deals with various aspects of heart
disease through informal question and answer sessions. Local
authorities deal with diet, exercise, medication, stress and more.
When: Thursday, February 9, 1995
Where: Seaforth Community Hospital
To Register: Obtain registration form from doctor's office or hospital
and return to hospital, Attention: Val Poisson,
Facilitator
What: eight 2 hour informal question and answer sessions,
featuring local authorities.
East Huron Long Term Care: Next meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, January 26, 1995 in the Board Room at Seaforth
Community Hospital. Paul Klopp, MPP will be present to explain
Powers of Attorney. Everyone welcome.
Paul St
Member of Parliament '
MAY THE PEACE AND HAPPINESS
THAT CHRISTMAS BRINGS BE YOURS
TODAY AND EVERYDAY THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR
Serving the Constituents
of Huron -Bruce
527-0430
OBVIOUS
Alternative
ai-usgvarna Cha,nuwe
Pouton PF10 Oii000r Power Product`
Orapon Saw Chan W ndaor Saw Chan
GLEN SAWS
L. McGRATH PLUMBING
AND HEATING INC,
Seaforth
522-0493
JIM ANDERSON
Larry McGrath
lcenced Atter t Gas Fifer
Can Today!
Clean...Efficient...Natural Gas
Installation
Service
Repairs
TREE
MOVING
SERVICE
CASEY VAN BAKEL
523-4894
Trees bought and Sold
ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING
522-1558 RESIDENTIAL & FARM
LLE
SATELLITE SYSTEMS
Satellite Systems • Home Security
Oft Air Antennas • N & Stereo Systems
Economical Financing
JOHN STAHLKE 25 McGregor St.
Ph i& Faz Stratford, Uitwo
(519) 271.4982 N4Z 1G6
SEAFORTH
PLUMBING & HEATING
AIR CONDITIONING
527-0505 BILL HOLMAN
Plumping, Ga FtArrfaces,
Ntvats Gas Frnpiacea, Gas
Appliances, Boilers
Sold, Installed, Servfoed and Guaranteed
st+owl1oor
5 oodskh 84 E Ssatorth
II�Iti
X11111!1
rlc , : ock, Stonework,
Chimney Repairs,
Fireplactt, Potntjng
Call
522-0208
527-2891, 522-0514
527-1620
Professor Purewater Available .
'You Just can't make at any better"
'Paint 'Housewares 'Gifts
Pk,mbng Healing Beatricetpplies
•Glass 8 Screening Repairs 'Tool Rental
'Noris of fume Handymen.
69 Main Street, Seatorth
PLAN OF THE WEEK
PLAN NO. 47
BASEMENT HOME SUITS FRONT VIEW LOT
by M. TYNAN
Copyright 1994
The main living areas are situated at the front of this elegant home along with
a large sundeck, making it suitable fa front view property.
Feature windows in the living room add a stylish touch, and sliding glace
doors in the dining room provide execs to the deck. An open plan for the
kitchen and family room creates a spacious country kitchen style atmosphere.
A door leading from the kitchen to the sundeck ares offers quick access to the
barbecue.
The muter bedroom features a bay window, a walk-in closet, and a three
piece ensuite.
An unfinished basement awaits your own creative touch.
Plans for OL -634 may be obtained for 5335.00 for a package of five complete
ser of working prints and $29.00 for each additional set of the same plan.
Allow $15.00 extra to cover the cost of postage and handling (B.C. residents
odd applicable sales tact to plan total) (Ail Canadian residents add 7% OST to
plan total plus posts. ed handling).
This is onset our neetdesivu. Moly inagrraiy ppaar urs. rtgetevallable hi
. Our home pier' cata(o jus kw $13.8 b clnding postage and 148 (39T.
Please make all cheques, money orders; and Visa or MasterCard authorizations payable to: T),nan Features
c/o. The Huron Expositor Plan of the Week, 13659 - 108 Avenue, Surrey, B.C., V3T 21(4.
MAIN -FLOOR PLAN
1,194 eo. FT.
HOFFMEYER S MILL
BUILDING SUPPLIES
• WINDOWS • DOORS
• CIL PAINTS • INSULATION
• HARDWARE • HARDWOOD
• CUSTOM MILLWORK
mime YOUR CO4N4tRYIlY IDR OYER 80 PEARS
hePrudentla s#4,
• IJIe • Auto
• Health • Home
• Group • Financial Services
II" ‘1'.1 1:;,02.'
\ :1 \It
100 Main St. Seaforth
- 17
HEARD
CONSTRUCTI
• 11LAYAT)$I • :MK MT1E
• UHINII TOPSOIL • C1NERIII CON RRAVINC
CALL 522.0307 OR
1.800460.1867