October 12, 2011
Townships to take
second look at auto ex
by Kay McQuade
Head, Clara & Maria council has voted to reconsider its decision to
withdraw from the area's joint emergency services agreement.
Approximately two dozen residents of Head, Clara & Maria (HCM) sat
inside the township hall, forgoing a beautiful Friday afternoon last
week to hear retired OPP officer and former Justice of the Peace
Clayton McKechnie, speak to council about concerns surrounding HCM’s
withdrawal from the joint agreement with Laurentian Hills and Deep
River.
He also presented council with a petition signed by concerned Mackey
residents.
McKechnie sent a letter to council earlier in the week asking them to
“take another serious look at this issue and reconsider its position
and apply common sense to this situation.”
McKechnie feels “this service is essential to have in a remote area.”
He stated that “it would be irresponsible for council to endanger
citizens on township roads or the highway by cancelling the agreement.”
“For the price to pay being $800 per year, it is a very, very small
price to pay to save someone’s life,” he said.
“If you or a loved one required the jaws of life and it was not
available because of the fact that our council chose to opt out, what
would you do?”
McKechnie reported that both Mike Nolan, head of the Renfrew County
Paramedic Service and Gene Thompson, Deep River fire chief, strongly
share his opinion to keep this viable service.
In his presentation, McKechnie said that “council was ill informed and
had not received correct information on the issue.”
He said HCM was “made to look very foolish throughout the Valley.”
Clerk Melinda Reith took exception to some of McKechnie’s remarks and
had to be asked by Reeve Tammy Lea Stewart to allow McKechnie to finish
his presentation.
McKechnie continued and asked “what will happen if we do opt out?”
“The auto extrication unit is currently obliged to provide service, but
there may be an issue in responding if there is no agreement in place.”
He urged HCM council to “opt in to protect everyone in this room and
their families.”
The misinformation McKechnie was referring to was explained by Reith in
her report to council.
Reith and some members of council “were under the understanding that LH
or DR would not respond to incidents on our municipal roads.”
Tawyna Roberts, OFM Municipal Advisor, in conversation with Reith on
October 4, corrected this misconception “by citing section 18 of the
joint agreement which states that they could respond to incidents along
HCM municipal roads.”
Reith states in her report that, “at no time during the meeting of
September 9 (when the decision to opt out was made) did the coverage of
municipal roads come into discussion.”
“The decision that council made was based on other factors including
perceived liability and coverage along Highway 17 which it is felt
should be a provincial responsibility.”
Council members then had an opportunity to respond.
Councillor Dave Foote remarked that the agreement was “a low priced
item.”
“The $800 represented approximately only $4 per household.”
Reith replied that “council’s decision was not based on money.”
Councillor Ed Aiston countered, “Cost is always important.”
He announced that he “was not prepared to make a decision right now.”
Reith noted in her report that “according to our municipal procedure
bylaw, the only way that a decision of council may be reconsidered is
if there is new information that has come to light.
“In this case there has been clarification of liability issues
received.”
Council unanimously passed a resolution to consider the new information
and revisit the issue at the November 18 meeting.
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