Lakeshore Advance, 2013-01-09, Page 6Wedneeda 9 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 5
opinion
letters to the editor
Alzheimer Society
of Huron County
to present
Public Education
Sessions:
dementia 101
Dear editor:
The Alzheimer Society of Huron
County is offering a public information
session "Dementia 101: An Overview of
Alzheimer's disease and other demen-
tias". This session is being offered to
family and professional caregivers and
the general public. Topics include infor-
mation on Alzheimer's disease and
other dementias, a description of the
symptoms of dementia, caregiving
issues, and the availability of commu-
nity services.
Dementia 101 will he offered free of
charge in the meeting rooms in the Exe-
ter Town I call on Thursday, January 10
from 7 - 8:30. Free refreshments will be
served.
If you cannot meet us there, we are
also hosting the meeting across the
county in the following locations:
CLINTON
Betty Canino Centre;
Saturday, January 12; 10-11:30 ung
GODERICH
United Communities Credit Union;
Wednesday, January 16; 7-8:30pnm
Community Room
WINGHAM
Maitland River Community Church;
tesday, January 22; 2-3:30pnr
"Education and awareness is a key
tool when it comes to dealing with
Alzheimer's disease," says Jeanette
Sears, Public Education Coordinator.
"Dementia is a tough issue; h is difficult
to detect and diagnose. When it touches
you at a personal level, it is difficult to
accept. The earlier people become
aware of the information and resources
available, the better they can access the
help they treed."
To register or for more information
contact the Society at 519-402-1482/1-
800-561-5012, by e-mail at Jeanette(il
alzheimerhuron.on.ca or visit www.
alzheinrer.ca/huroncounty .
The Alzheimer Society of 1 luron
County provides information, educa-
tion, and support through individual
counseling and support groups to per-
sons with Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias, their caregivers,
families, health professionals, and the
general public.
Perspective on Lambton ShoresCouncil Achievements
Dear editor:
Many of us have received an email mes-
sage from the Deputy Mayor that details the
accomplishments of the Lambton Shores
Council. Whether or not this message was
endorsed by the 2010 council, we, as former
councillors need to provide another perspec-
tive on most of these claims and we need to
continue to ask questions.
• Concealing information -'there has been
no disclosure of Council's claimed "new
direction" even when asked munerous tinges
by the public. 'this "new direction" claim has
been used as the reason to terminate the
CAO. Why can no one get an answer to this
question? Why was there no public consulta-
tion to develop this so called "new direction"?
Why have there been apparent in camera
leaks regarding the CAI) dismissal process
and why do they continue to break protocol?
• Lack of openness , transparency and
democracy. 'There have been more "Secret
Meetings" (in Camera Meetings) than at any
time in Lambton Shores history, Criticisms of
Council's lack of transparency have been
cited in the Annual Report of the Ombuds-
man and thcrombudstnan is currently inves-
tigating this council.
• Strategic Planning - After nearly two years
of council -only meetings, unlike previous
councils who did this via public consultation,
2010 council chose to gather no public input
until the decision to post 0 goals on the web-
site. Councillors took the lead on their own
and rejected any professional advice as to the
process. After two years' time, and after
referring every question and issue that carte
to the council table to strategic planning, all
that has been accomplished are these eight
motherhood goals. If you don't believe us,
ask any member of this Council to produce a
copy of their new Strategic Plan.
• Economic Development- 'Ibis has always
been an area for continuous improvement
and for developing strong partnerships for all
councils. Council blocked the Oasis retire-
ment home project -a potential major
employer, taxpayer and service provider to
the elderly (their union issues are of no con-
cern of this council), and reduced the sewage
capacity of the proposed S'1'F project that
would have provided capacity for future
growth, and forcing Not So Pro Volleyball out
of Lampton Shores just a few examples.
'!hese potential tax dollars and revenue could
help keep our taxes down across Lambton
Shores.
Council did establish an economic devel-
opment task force that took six months to
simply develop a recommendation to form a
committee. 'The committee community vol-
unteers were well intentioned and should be
thanked for their time. however, the majority
of Council rejected a 2011 (.AO report on a
process that could have been effective and
instead chose to go ahead without staff
involvement and without any meaningful
involvement of organisations and profession-
als from the two economic organizations to
whom we pay county taxes. Any specific
directions -none! In addition the council
endorsed a duplication of services by
establishing a directory of businesses
throughout Lambton Shores. 'These directo-
ries already exist -through Sarnia Lambton
Economic Partnership and through'I'ouristn
Sarnia Lambton. Rather than duplicate a
service we need to educate and encourage
our businesses and community to effectively
use what is there; however this advice was
also ignored.
• Debt Reduction
Some councillors continually invoke
Lambton Shores high debt as a major con-
cern. Lambton Shores has always been within
our debt ceiling set by the ministry and
obtained over 60 million grant dollars for a
variety of planned infrastructure projects -
projects that are an Investment in the com-
munity. Yes, Lambton Shores had to fund 1/3
dollars toward these projects and do this
through low interest loans. Pretty fiscally
responsible way to acquire significant com-
munity assets! '!hese assets make Lambton
Shores attractive for further investment and
growth. Some 2010 council members have
recently taken credit for reducing the debt
from $21 million to $17 trillion. Someone
should ask what deliberate actions did this
council take to reduce the debt by 2096 . The
truth is that these reductions were forecast by
the previous Council because debt was being
retired. This Council took no steps whatso-
ever to reduce debt, they simply let the debt
reduce on its own and now take credit for
doing that! We wonder if this Council will still
letters to the editor Bluewater Biz
Ronn Dodge praises former CAO
Dear editor:
As the former Mayor of the Town of
Forest, the council of the day (1980)
were in need of a new clerk. After an
intensive search and interviews, John
Byrne was chosen for the position. A
decision neither 1, nor the council ever
regretted. Elected people have to
remember that they have a duty to all
ratepayers. Councillors with personal
axes to grind, or represent "special
interest" groups or act as yes people to
at person who does not have the best
interest of all ratepayers in mind; you
fail as an elected official.
As the (;AO, your important job is to
work close with Council, seeing that we
the elected understand the Municipal
Act, the by-laws, the budget, and the
need to protect the ratepayers, their
properties and businesses. John had a
great rapport with Council and staff.
1lis reports to Council with all the
pros and cons were a valuable asset to
council in their decision making. No
decisions will please 10096. John's
reports were the basis of great co-oper-
ation with upper tier government, Pro-
vincial and Federal, we obtained many
grants and subsidies on sewer
expansion and upgrades, a guaranteed
water source, natural gas lines coining
to the community, road upgrades,
downtown revitalization, all these
things help upgrade the value of the
ratepayers property. Growth and stabil-
ity help all. I can only apologize for this
Mayor and Council, who saw fit to ter-
minate you in this humiliating fashion.
I know the man John is and he will
survive. Our Municipality has lost a
great asset in his personal knowledge
and caring.
The people of Arkona, (rand Rend,
'Ihedford, Forest and the people of the
former Bosanquet Township are still
important and now form the Munici-
pality of Lambton Shores As responsi-
ble citizens and ratepayers you will all
pay the "bill'. You will have a voice on
the next election day. I would like to
thank John for his guidance and friend-
ship over these last many years.
Ronn E. Dodge
Mayor of Forest
1976 to 1988
CONTINUED > PAGE 16
Dear editor:
I'd like to bring back the Babe. Now that Ionian, Josh, (ayl
and Paul have got the Farm Surveys going it's time for action
on the I Iensall and Zurich BR +E. Babe would be just the guy to
put on our BR+E'1'eam.
If you didn't know, I;II+I: stands for Business Retention and
Expansion. Our business owners and leaders told us what we
need to do. Now we just have to get busy and (io it.
Albert Charles "Babe" Seibert drowned in Lake 1 luron in the
summer of 1939. But he won the Stanley Cup in 1926 with
Montreal and again with the Rangers in '31 Anyone remem-
ber when we watched N111. games in the winter? Babe was a
three -tinge all-star. 1 le won the 1 fart Trophy and after he retired
he signed on as coach in Montreal hitt died before the season
started. Coming from Zurich and with his winning ways Baht
would he a good one for our BR t E'l'eam. t le might go over to
Easy Building Products on Airport Line and talk to theme about
their expansion. 1 le would find out !now they are winning in a
tough economy.
Check hack here next week to see who will he on our all-star
BR+E Teams.
Mark Cassidy
line
Iakeshoreadvance.com
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