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The Huron Expositor, 1988-11-16, Page 5THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 16, 1988 — 5A Allegations made of threats Huronview residents have been warned that if they complain of conditions at the home they will be punished, says a staff member. Marilyn Reidy addressed County Council at the Nov. 3 meeting. She was there with a group of Huronview employees, who were apparently not authorized by their union, the Service Employees Union Local.210, to speak to council. Reidy was backed by Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling, who said he had received a signed letter from a resident say- ing "if (the resident) was not quiet, this resi- dent would be moved to the second floor." Wayne Lester, administrator for the home, said he had become aware of the in- cident the previous week. "I've read the letter," he said. "I was told long ago that this resident was writing. All I know is what she said and what she stated to the staff." If the incident did happen, "a staff member handled it wrong," but the staff member was not available for questioning, Lester said. John Doherty, Deputy Reeve of Goderich, said the allegations of threats were a "great concern." "If people are unhappy there and say so, their concerns should be looked into – they shouldn't be threatened." Lester said he would look into the allega- tions and report back to the next County Council meeting. Reidy also said staff members were wor- ried that a second round of layoffs and the closure of one wing may leave Huronview Home For the Aged offering insufficient care and services. Huronview residents are "paying good money for care and they're not getting it," she said. Hairdressing services, which Reidy said are necessary for residents' self - pride, have been cut back, and she also said there is no cleaning staff an duty after 3 p.m. "The floors just aren't covered," she said. "If you have an aged parent in your home, do you check on him. or her every hour?" asked Lossy Fuller, chairman of the Com- mittee of Management for Huronview. "No," shot back Reidy. "That's why I'd take them to Huronview, or someplace like it, because I can't look after them 24 hours a day." "That's your opinion," Fuller said. "And I don't think it's a concern of County Coun- cil." The wing to be closed is the 52 -bed residential wing called "Summerhill." Fuller said the reason for the closure was that there were only 19 people in the wing. "There is no way you would keep a wing open for that number of residents," she said. Lester said the drop in residents isn't uni- que to Huron County. "We're experiencing this because of (organizations like) Town and Country Homemakers, Para -Med and others like that." Such organizations make it possible for seniors to remain in their homes longer than they could before, he said. People who came to Huronview "used to be ambulatory; now we have them coming here out of ambulances and on gurneys. Now more residents are 'heavy bed' care." In answer to a question from Doherty, however, Lester admitted that such a move would be "very traumatic" for the residents. But the area they're moving to is to seniors newer and efforts will be made to put all of them into semi -private rooms, he said. "I think the newer wing is better than the 1950s wing, and there's more staff in other areas than there was in Summerhill," he said. When asked whether the staff cutbacks would eliminate Huronview's debt to the county, Lester said he didn't know. "Project it 12 months into the future," said Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston. "The deficit won't be as great next June as it would have been without these cuts," Lester said. "We would have had to ask for $230,000 more from the province and $145,000-$150,000 more from the county without them." "But how much money are you saving?" Johnston asked again. "I don't know," Lester repeated. "Then why are you making these cuts and stirring up a hornet's nest if nothing's go- ing to be saved?" Johnston asked. "11 we're making cuts that will save money, that won't affect the level of care and won't stir up the employees, that's great. "But nothing I've heard has told me that this is what's happening. How can I vote on this? You say the deficit will be less – well, $10 would be less. I don't think we have ade- quate information to make a decision." Earlier, Reidy had also complained that staff members had been shut out of an Oct. 28 meeting between the Huronview Commit- tee of Management and representatives of the employees' union. Fuller said that the decision about who should attend was made between the union representative, County Clerk -Treasurer Bill Hanly and herself. It would have been too costly for all members to attend, she said. • ..,_` .I.III ` .� t l� i�, .111.1 ,�� t - �, d HEALTH ON THE HILL -- A series of biweekly reviews of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN DAYS GONE BY ..... The sod -turning ceremony for the out-patients and emergency addition on October 29, 1988 brought to mind for some the sod -turning ceremony held 24 years ago to mark the construc- tion of Seaforth's present hospital. Marlen Vincent, Campaign Chairman noted in his address that the cost of the Hospital at that time was $900,000. and the campaign fund objective of $195,000. was met. Taking part in the sod -turning ceremony in July 1964 for the Hospital design- ed with "the clean, hard lines of a jet aircraft in flight" were Malcolm McKellar, Honqurary President, representing the Board, Mrs. Fred Cosford, Hospital Auxiliary President, J. M. Scott, long-time Board Member, representing the Fundraising Campaign and Miss Valerie Drope, Hospital Administrator. NEWS FROM THE ACTIVATION GROUP On November 4th the Activation Group recognized Mrs. Ruth Thorburn on her imminent departure to the south for the winter months. Our volunteers provide an integral service to the Activation Group and we certainly appreciate the interest Ruth has taken in the group as well as assisting with Speech Therapy. We wish Ruth a good winter in the south and an- ticipate her return, as a volunteer, in the Spring. Marj Varley will be here one day per week for Volunteer Services. Welcome Marj. Mrs. Mary Jane Ford is also a new volunteer at the Hospital working with the Activation Group. We welcome her and are looking forward to her input. We have completed which was just in time for Hallowe'en an "apple witch" craft, much the same as the apple dolls. This was a fairly uncomplicated craft and was finished within one week. If there are any ideas out there, we welcome them - please contact Mary Margaret Nash, Activity Director. As well, interested volunteers to help with 'stimulation programs' for the long-term patient are greatly needed. HOSPITAL HEROES Hospital personnel are eager to begin participating in fundraising activities. The Housekeeping Staff have all made personal contributions, Nursing Staff have held different raffles over the past year, Dietary Staff recently held a Hallowe'en meal and bake sale, Business Office staff have also raffled tickets on a hand -made porcelain doll, and Laboratory had a hot dog sale for staff. Many more events are scheduled for the New Year. 111(BEI. t SANITATION CITH 52%-IO9S NEW 'DUMP' TRUCK - Jerry Nobel of Nobel Sanitation poses with Wife Brigit and daughter Jodie, in front of the Demkpster In - ternational Packer he purchased recently. At right, Mr. Nobel demonstrates how his truck operates. Mcllwraith photos. Recycling to start small scale in Seaforth The environmental and economic benefits of recycling as a tool to reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfill sites, is not going unnoticed in Seaforth. Although the Town has not seriously ad- dressed the issue, at least one local garbage cdlector has. For the past year Jerry Nobel, of Nobel's Ssnitation, has been collecting newspapers from the homes along his weekly garbage route. He then transports those newspapers to a recycling depot in London. Concerned about the shortage of landfills in the province, and in Huron County specifically, Mr. Nobel and his wife Brigit, say recycling "has to be" and predict that within the next 10 years anything at all recyclable will be. To initiate recycling in Seaforth the Nobels intend in the new year to expand "In my own viewpoint the government their newspaper collection to include has to get after the companies and start anyone in Seaforth willing to participate. All making them change their packaging," he they ask is that householders bundle their said, noting as an example, a recent deci- newspapers and wrap them in a piece of pro- sion by Coca-Cola to house their one litre tective plastic. Coke in a plastic rather glass bottle. "We have to get less garbage," said Mr. "And consumers have to start writing let- Mr. Nobel is the second generation of his Nobel. ters. What's wrong with the glass retur- family in the sanitation business. His father "There are too many places in trouble." nable?," he asked. Gordon started the business 32 years ago. Mrs. Nobel noted that Canada wouldn't be too far wrong to follow the lead set by Holland, who has been facing the problem of landfilling for decades. "In Holland everything on the shelves is in glass, and everyone is participating in the recycling program," she said. "Vegetables are in jars, not tins, and there are bins out in front of the stores where you drop off your old jars beforebuy- ing your food. Holland has been battling the problem for years, and Canada is actually very far behind in this." Mr. Nobel noted the Canadian govern- ment has to start enforcing recycling, par- ticularly when large companies insist on packing their goods in non -recyclable containers. "More people are recycling now and I'm sure people would be willing to pay a deposit if they can bring the bottles back, then throw all that plastic in the garbage." The Nobels realize their efforts at recycl- ing won't solve the landfilling problems, but said they hope they'll help. "It's just newspaper for now. We're hop- ing to eventually get into aluminum cans etc... but it all takes time," said Mr. Nobel. "We're willing to give 200 per cent cooperation to any new plans or ideas the town has for recycling. Our concern is for the environment, it's not for the money, because there's not much money in it (recycling)," he added. In another effort to further compact the refuse being transported weekly to the local landfill site, Mr. Nobel has purchased an In- ternational Dempster Packer, which true to its name, will compress the garbage. He noted the truck is propane powered so will result in no harmful emissions going into the environment. Council questions logistics of evaluation Performance evaluations of the town's deputy -clerk, and Clerk/Administrator have been completed and filed, but not without some comments from council. Councillor Garry Osborn questionned the logistics of having Clerk/Ad- ministrator Jim Crocker compile the results of his own evaluation, done and signed by each of the members of council. "It has to have some affect on the feel- ings between the Clerk and the members of council who put the report out," said Councillor Osborn. Other members of council disagreed. "Everyone has weaknesses in their job, and this is one way of working them out," said Councillor Peg Campbell. "It's one way of getting our point across about what the clerk is doing right or wrong," added Councillor Bob Dinsmore. / suggestion that the evaluations might be better accepted if they were done anonymously was shot down. "When I do the evaluations of people in the office, they're not anonymous. You have to face the facts about what you're not doing well," said Clerk Crocker, ad- ding he'd just as soon the evaluations were done on a personal level that on paper. t'You can let your personal animosities show up if you don't have to answer to the evaluation," added Councillor Carolanne Doig. Councillor Bill McLaughlin admitted he hadn't filled out the evaluation, because he didn't feel qualified to do so. "How can you evaluate a person, honest- ly, if you only see them an hour a month. Truthfully I didn't do it, I didn't see how I could," he said. Councillor Dinsmore agreed council did not see the Clerk in his daily operation, but said council members were still capable of filling out the evaluation. "The questions have to do with his job and how you're being affected by it. The answers are in your opinion," he said. "I agree we're not here all the time, and we're not affected by what he does in the office. But the form states that any ques- tions you're uncomfortable with, you're not to answer. You shouldn't take a guess if you don't know. We need something though. We have to have some control over town employees." "The whole purpose of the questions is to get feedback," added Councillor Doig. Turn to page 17A • 1 .: `„� t r, rr r._ rr , „1. IIII.Y III 1 - a • ..,. ova►¢-• FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Anniversary Services SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 11:15 A.M. and 7:30 RM. REV. T.A.A. DUKE OF PORT CARLING, a former minister, will be the GUEST PREACHER. GUEST SOLOIS S - Mr. John DeJager; - Mrs. Gloria Wiibee REV. WM. BARBER - Minister MRS. CAROL CARTER - Organist & Choir Director, A.Mus. ARCT. RMT. THE DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELET IT'S ALL IN A FLICK OF THE WRIST. What hat makes these casual, yet elegant v bracelets extraordinary is the combination of superb design and quality diamonds. Diamonds that have been judged by the 4 C's: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight. Sizes vary and start around $1995; see our complete selection. The ball, as they say, is now in your court. THE DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELET A diamond is forever. EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Anniversary Sunday NOVEMBER 20th - 11:00 a.m. Guest Minister: Rev. Donald Jones A Social Hour Will Follow Worship NOTICE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE WILL RE TEMPORARILY MOVED TO THE PRIVATE DIAMOND CONSULTATIONS: Call the Anstett location nearest you for an appointment ANSTETT Specialists Since 1950 FRONT ENTRANCE 0 DUE TO CONSTRUCTION At t+BE JWLLIRS EFFECTIVE MONDAY, NOV. 21st ��N frY P r-, Use Our Convenient Layaway Plan 8 Albert St CLINTON..482-3901 284 Main St EXETER..235-2468 26 Main St S SEAFORTH..527-1720 135 Queen St East ST. MARYS..284-1036 203 Durham St E WALKERTON..881.0122 2 The Square GODERICH..524-4195