Clinton News-Record, 1987-05-13, Page 1It ,511
Clinton News -Record
IN(:()RPi)RATING•THE BLl TH ST.AND .ARU•TH1,: B;11 FIELD 13( (;L1
WEDNESDAY, MAS 13, 1987
,411
HEALTH BOARD UNDER FIRE
Grievances filed
by 50 employees
om health unit
50 CENTS
CHSS -takes third
The Huron -Perth Track and Field Cham-
pionships- were held in Goderich on May 5
and 6. Central Huron Secondary School
(CHSS) had 45 participants in attendance
and many outstanding efforts were
recorded.
Central Huron finished in third place
overall with 431 points, which is the highest
finish in some 20 years for the Redmen.
Madill won the event with 585 points while
Goderich, champions the last three years,
placed second with 522 points.
The CHSS midget boys team captured the
midget championship for the second year in
a row collecting 133 points. Points are
awared on a 10-8-6-4-2-1 basis from first to
sixth place in each event.
The top three finishers in each event
qualify for the WOSSA championships being
held at Little Stadium this week, ( May
13,14). Out of the 45 participants from Cen-
tral Huron, 31 have qualified for WOSSA
competition!
A number of outstanding performances
were turned in by CHSS competitors this
year. Vivienne Stephens set a new Huron -
Perth record in the midget girls 100 metre
sprint with a time of 12.9 seconds, breaking
the previous record of 13 seconds held by
Erin Robinson and Kim Fritzley from
Goderich. Vivienne also captured first place
in the midget girls 200 metre race with a
time of 27.1 seconds.
Other first place finishers included: Lisa
Beattie, midget girls triple jump, 10.04
metres, a new school record; Kathleen
Verhoef, midget girls discus, 24.79 metres;
Julie Howson, senior girls high jump, 1.45
metres, fourth consecutive victory; Steve
Vandendool, midget boys shot put, 13.45
metres; Jon Leppington, midget boys pole
vault, 2.80 metres; Derek Bradshaw,
midget boys 800 metre, 2 minutes 13.1
seconds; Craig Caldwell, midget boys high
jump, 1.64 metres; Steve Souch, junior boys
3000 metre, 10 minutes 1.1 seconds; Ming
Lee, senior boys 800 m^tre, 2 minutes 2.8
seconds, a new school record, senior boys
400 metres, 52.1 seconds, a new school
record; midget boys 4x100 metre relay, 49.2
seconds, Mike Verburg, Darryl Hem-
ingway, Everett Ridder, Steve Vandendool,
a new school record; junior girls 4x100
metre relay, 52.5 seconds, Karen Uyl, Susan
Govenlock, Lisa Beattie, Vivienne Stephens,
a new school record; senior boys 4x100
metre relay, 49.0 seconds, David Sparling,
Doug Roy, Don Hearn, Steve Hearn.
Second place finishers included: Lisa
Beattie, midget girls high jump, 1.45
metres; Kim Medd, midget girls 3000 metre,
12 minutes 5.6 seconds; Kathy Kennedy,
midget girls 400 metre, 65.5 seconds, a new
school record; Karen Uyl, junior girls 100
metre, 13.6 seconds; Susan Govenlock,
It was up and over the high jump bar for Central Huron Secondary School's Mike Corrie
during the second day of the Huron -Perth Track and Field Championships in Goderich on
May 6. Mike placed second in the midget boys high jump competition. ( David Emslie
photo)
junior girls long jump, 4.66 metres, a new
school record; Tara Cluff, senior girls 100
metre, 14.1 seconds, senior girls long jump,
4.49 metres; Darryl Hemingway, midget
boys 100 metre hurdles, 16.9 seconds; Greg
Turn to page 12•
Trailing these two runners from F.E. Madill Secondary School was
Steve Dolmage from Central Huron Secondary School. Steve plac-
ed fourth in the junior boys 110 metre hurdles event that was part of
the Huron -Perth Track and Field Championships held in Goderich
on May 5-6. ( David Emslie photo)
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-
forcement of staff from the board; no
direct,, communication on board decisions;
the lack of a written policies and pro-
cedures manual for the health unit
employees; the replacement of Dr. 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 in the brief will be ad -
.dressed at the next board meeting.
"We haven't gone through them ( the
concerns) as yet. We're going to gladly
discuss them at the next meeting. We want
a better system with everyone in har-
mony," said Mr. Starling, reeve of
Goderich Township, following the council
meeting.
Huron County Warden Brian McBurney
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.
Town hall
study gets
go ahead
in Bayfield
HAYFIELD - Council here has committed
$2,500 to a study that will help determine the
future of the old town hall.
Approval to proceed with a detailed study
and the hiring of architect Chris Borgal of
Blyth was given by village council at their
May 4 meeting.
Councillor Pat Muratori said that the
village residents will be surveyed to deter-
mine how they•feel about the town hall and
how and if it should be used in the future. If
public opinion indicates the town hall should
be salvaged, then Chris Borgal will under-
take a detailed study of the building and its
possible uses. Previous suggestions have in-
cluded its use as a community meeting
place and as a small museum.
Councillor Muratori stressed that a detail-
ed study will cost well over $2,500, however
she pointed out that council will not commit
further funds to this project. Additional
money will be sought through government
grant programs. If such grants are not
received, the plans will be shelved.
The approval by council "gets the ball
rolling," Councillor Jim Quick pointed out.
The old town hall, on Clan Gregor Square,
was built in 1882. In 1920 it was re -located to
its present location on the southerly side of
Clan Gregor Square.
At the present time the building is not in
use for extensive public use, as the structure
no longer complies with building codes and
fire safety regulations.
Hurn County hires new MOH
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.
Goderich Township Reeve and Chair-
man of the Board of Health Grant Stirling
made the announcement prior to the
cauiug u, die 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 board
of health offered him a starting salary of
$70,209 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. James
McGregor of Wingham h!as 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 agreecj„to come to
be the MOH for Huron County. He also
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.
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.
Warden McBurney
cites resentment over
Ceislar resignation
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 i more important," said Mr.
McBurney.
As for accusations by health unit staff
toward Mr. Hanley's interference in health
board decisions, Mr. McBurney says the
claims are unfounded. No such pi oblem 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 and 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, viewing 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.
CLINTON PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
BUILDING FUND
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