Loading...
The Citizen, 2018-03-15, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: FOUNDATION - Pg. 9 Brussels Optimist Club raises over $30,000 Visa - Pg. 11 Caroline Mulroney visits Blyth during local tour FESTIVAL - Pg. 19 Blyth Festival receives funding to aid production Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 Citiz Volume 34 No. 11 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, March 15, 2018 It's magic The Wingham Skating Club held its annual year-end showcase last week at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex and dozens of its members were on the ice showing off what they've learned over the course of the season. The program, called "Under The Big Top", took on a circus theme and these young skaters were its magicians, disappearing and reappearing at will. Pulling a fast one on the audience are, from left: Landis Hayes, Avery Toll, Ava Bragg, Bella Hutton and Taylor Adams. (Shawn Coughlin photo) Incoming regulations concern firefighters By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen New regulations being handed down for firefighters across Ontario are concerning area fire chiefs and could change how the departments operate and recruit in the future. Of the highest concern is the mandatory certification and training for firefighters. Huron East Fire Chief Marty Bedard told council at its March 6 meeting that all local firefighters achieve the equivalent of certification through their local department, but over the course of a number of years and without certification at the end. So while volunteer firefighters are achieving the same level of training through their local departments, only without certification at the end, Bedard said these new regulations would insist upon official certification from the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst. What those regulations would mean for volunteer firefighters around Ontario, Bedard said, is a dramatic increase to municipalities' fire training budgets. While registration for the course is under $100 per member, Bedard said that mileage costs, per diem and accommodation for members would add up quickly. In addition, he said that having to take time away from a job, as well as home life and family members, in order to train for the fire department could serve as a deterrent for members considering volunteering for the department. In addition, a change is being proposed that would require community risk assessment for municipalities. Public feedback on both changes, proposed by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, was expected back by March 11. Bedard told councillors that the training would include mandatory certification requirements set out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for all new suppression firefighters, pump operators, technical rescuers, fire officers and fire educators. The requirements would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, with the exception of technical rescuers, which would come into force on Jan. 1, 2020. The same certification requirements would apply to fire inspectors, fire investigators, fire instructors, hazardous materials personnel and fire dispatchers who are already employed across Ontario. The requirements for professionals already employed would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The additional time, Bedard said in his report to council, is allotted to give departments time to train and certify their staff. Bedard told council that while a number of details associated with these new regulations have yet to be released, there has been talk of a "grandfathering" system for existing volunteer firefighters, although nothing has been confirmed. "I agree training is extremely important in the fire service and our volunteers are being asked a lot of their time now," Bedard said in his report. "Is this new regulation going to tip it over the edge and make recruitment of new firefighters harder? It is also possible we get Continued on page 9 HE budget nears approval with slight tax increase By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron East's second budget draft differs little from the first, but includes a slight increase to the tax levy and some uncertainty surrounding some of the year's spending. Treasurer Paula Michiels presented the second draft of the budget to council at its March 6 meeting. Council had given her little direction in terms of changes after the first draft was presented. Michiels presented the second draft of the budget with a 5.6 per cent increase to the municipal levy, which amounted to a 4.99 per cent increase to the overall levy (which factors in increases at both the Huron County and education board levels). This is slightly higher than the overall tax increase of 4.88 per cent proposed in the first draft. Members of the Seaforth Recreation Committee, however, were persistent in asking for an additional $10,000 from the budget in order to replace the flooring in the upper viewing room of the Seaforth and District Community Centre. Council, however, remained undecided on the matter. Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight reminded councillors that all three of the municipality's recreation centres are receiving a four per cent increase to their departmental levies (a luxury not afforded to other departments) as well as special deficit-reduction levies for the second year in a row, ranging from $20,442 for the Seaforth centre to $28,839 for the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. In addition, the municipality is already financing the centre's new ice machine with $90,000 out one of Huron East's wind turbine vibrancy funds. The most important factor, however, was that the centre currently has over $68,000 in its reserves. Both Michiels and Knight suggested to council that the centre utilize those reserves for this project, rather than asking for more money Continued on page 20 Blyth's snow removal comes under fire By Denny Scott The Citizen Last week, North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent briefed council on one of the major concerns discussed at a recent community meeting hosted by the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA). The meeting, held last month at Blyth Memorial Hall, saw many people speak passionately about snow removal in the village, saying it had deteriorated. Some spoke to the fact that North Huron, instead of removing snow when necessary, followed a three -times -a -week schedule, saying they couldn't believe such a practice was in use. Vincent reported, during council's March 5 meeting, that people in the village want it done when necessary instead of the thrice -weekly schedule, but said if that were to happen, there would be an area - rating to the Blyth ward for extra staffing, equipment and supplies. In a later interview with The Citizen, Vincent explained that the change was brought about last summer at approximately the same time Public Works Director Sean McGhee was hired. "We were trying to balance the municipality," Vincent said, explaining that while Blyth's snow removal was done as necessary, Wingham might only see it done twice a week. He said there is very little snow removal done in East Wawanosh and the majority of the work in Belgrave is handled by the Belgrave Community Centre Board. "We will definitely need a report at a later time," Vincent said at the council meeting, "as well as possibly further investigation as to whether that was a group of people saying that or the whole of the Blyth ward." Vincent said he passed the concerns on to McGhee.