Fort Frances council on Monday night unanimously defeated a request from Alberton Township to support its resolution to have the Northwestern Health Unit dismiss Dr. Pete Sarsfield for his behaviour over the much-debated smoking issue.
“I think it’s absolutely outrageous resolution,” said Coun. Struchan Gilson, who has the been the most vocal councillor on the issue since Dr. Sarsfield first declared second-hand smoke a heath hazard last January.
“He’s fought long and hard to look after the health of the people of the region. If we, as politicians, interfere with people like this, he wouldn’t get anything done,” Coun. Gilson added.
“He’s doing his job.”
Several other councillors, including Dave Bourgeault and Sharon Tibbs, agreed, noting that while all may not agree with his approach, Dr. Sarsfield is simply “doing his job.”
Both Alberton and Emo councils voted in favour of the resolution last week. Chapple was expected to vote on the resolution Tuesday afternoon.
The matter may see more heated debate Jan. 25 at the annual meeting of the Northern Ontario Municipal Association in Stratton.
On the other hand, council Monday night defeated a motion brought forth by Coun. Gilson to adopt a 100 percent smoke-free bylaw in all businesses in town on the grounds the decision either should be left up to individual business owners, or to the provincial or federal levels of government.
The motion was defeated 5-1, with Coun. Gilson as the sole vote in favour of it.
Also at last night’s meeting, council heard a presentation by the “Re-Inventing Fort Frances” committee regarding a request that $80,000 be set aside in the 2003 budget to cover the town’s share of a centennial mural on the “lap building.”
While council agreed the request, without a final report to back it up, came too late to be considered for the 2003 budget, the matter will be considered once a final report on Phase I projects is received and the funds may yet be allocated in a reserve fund.
In related news, council passed the 2003 budget last night by a 4-2 vote, with Couns. Bourgeault and Roy Avis dissenting (Coun. Deane Cunningham was absent from the meeting).
The budget calls for a 4.25 percent tax hike for residential ratepayers.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•heard a verbal police activity report for the year ending 2002 by OPP detachment commander S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis;
•received a Rainy River Future Development Corp. activities report from economic developer Geoff Gillon, and accepted the invoice for direct services for the period ending Dec. 31, 2002 in the amount of $30,668.75;
•heard an essay about the history of the Noden Causeway from St. Francis student Lauren Krueger (this essay was an example of the way local schools have been participating in the centennial celebrations);
•passed Bylaw No. 04/03 to assume, stop up, and close a part of Seventh Street between Keating Avenue and McIrvine Road (this property eventually will be developed into a lot for sale);
•agreed to amend zoning bylaw 8/98 (the zoning amendment will permit the use of the property located at 1408 Eighth St. E. to be used a place of worship);
•referred a request from Fort Frances High School to advertise in the 2003 yearbook to the Administration and Finance executive committee for recommendation;
•agreed to proclaim January as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month as per the request of the local Alzheimer’s Society;
•referred a request from Mark Cawston, steward of OPSEU Local 735, for support of a model resolution regarding assurance of high-quality property assessment to the Administration and Finance executive committee for recommendation;
•referred a request from the Municipality of Niagara for support of their resolution regarding council remuneration to the Administration and Finance executive committee for recommendation;
•passed Bylaw No. 03/03 to authorize the Corporation of the Town of Fort Frances to borrow temporarily by way of bank overdraft;
•passed Bylaw No. 05/03 to adopt the estimates of the sums required for all municipal and school purposes during 2003;
•passed Bylaw No. 06/03, authorizing the entering into of contracts with respect to janitorial services (Susan Deslauriers will provide janitorial services at the public library and Public Works offices commencing Jan. 1 while Tom Piotrowski will clean at the Children’s Complex starting Jan. 1);
•passed Bylaw No. 07/03, authorizing the execution of a proposal and the estimate of costs for the reconstruction of Scott Street designated a connecting link by Transportation minister Norm Sterling; and
•passed Bylaw No. 21/94 to establish a local Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
