SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 51 ISSUE 08
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – The township is hoping to quickly fill its vacant finance director position. The position became vacant in mid-January, when former finance director Karmen Krueger announced she would be leaving the township, effective Feb. 9. Mayor Neil Driscoll told the Community News in a telephone interview on Feb. 16 that council has authorized CAO Manny Baron to offer the position to another top applicant interviewed when Krueger was hired last summer. The mayor said two previous applicants have already been contacted. Although council held a closed session to discuss two
confidential reports from the CAO at the Feb. 13 council meeting, Driscoll said the decision on the process for hiring a new finance director “didn’t happen in closed session.” He said Baron did update council on his preferred approach to go back to previous applicants during the session. Driscoll said the township obtained advice from Wellington County’s human resources department and county treasurer Ken DeHart, who assisted Mapleton in the process that led to Krueger’s hiring. “They suggested … you had some strong candidates that were second and third. Why don’t you contact them and see what they’re doing?” Driscoll explained.
“Honesty, why go through the hiring process again if there were good candidates that might be interested in coming to Mapleton?” Council also held a special meeting in closed session prior to the regular meeting on Feb. 13. That meeting was held in camera under Municipal Act provisions allowing closed education and training sessions. Driscoll said the session was held in regard to the township’s plans to enhance wastewater capacity in an effort to end a long-standing development freeze. “It was just to get some education on what we were doing as far as our capacity upgrades,” said Driscoll. “We want everyone to be on the same page.”
Township continues to support youth engagement initiatives Sweet treats - The Drayton Reformed Church held a pancake supper fundraiser on Feb. 13. Sarah Culp kept the griddle full of raisin pancakes. Photo by Caroline Sealey
SEE SAFETY » 3
Seniors centre looking into grant for new programming MAPLETON – The local Seniors Centre for Excellence Centre is seeking the support of north Wellington municipalities for a plan to secure funding for additional programming. At the Feb. 13 Mapleton council meeting, local seniors health services coordinator Helen Edwards explained the provincial government plans to expand the Seniors’ Active Living program by up to 40 new centres and has proposed an $8-million dollar investment over the next three years. Municipalities are identified as key partners and the program requires that seniors centres work with municipalities to offer a minimum of 20% of the annual cost of maintaining and operating the program. This contribution can be cash, in kind or a combination.
638-3328
www.jackfinancial.ca
Mapleton hopes to quickly fill finance director position
By Caroline Sealey
By Patrick Raftis
Daily Interest 2.40%*
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Safety Day breakfast set for March 3 ALMA - Before the busy spring planting season begins, farm families are encouraged to attend a farm safety day to update, refresh or learn new safety skills. Wellington County residents can take advantage of the Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association’s annual pancake breakfast and Safety Day on March 3 at the Alma Community Centre. The event is open to adults and children. “One of our goals is to teach the farming community safety, in hopes that the message is passed on around the kitchen table, in the barn or before using farm equipment,” said association volunteer Sharon Grose. “If one life can be saved, we have accomplished something.” Passports will be given to participants upon arrival. Volunteers at each booth
1 Year GIC - 2.37% 3 Year GIC - 2.72% 5 Year GIC - 3.00%
Centres can work with more than one municipality as long as they are neighbouring. “This has created an opportunity to submit a grant application on behalf of Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North,” stated Edwards in her report, which notes grant applications are due on March 31. The government requires that funding must support new programs at new locations and Edwards notes this would allow for the expansion of programs currently offered by The Close to Home catchment area and allow for smaller communities to have access to social, educational and fitness programming. “It is an opportunity to bring additional programming into the municipality,” stated Edwards. “There is a component where municipalities do have to make contributions and,
NOW SHOWING
THE POST
Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm 116 MINS AND RATED PG
MAIN ST. W. PALMERSTON 519.343.3640 www.norgantheatre.com
if (Mapleton is) interested, I would approach the other municipalities to see if they would be interested in partnering in this grant opportunity.” Edwards said Mapleton is already providing administrative support to for the Seniors Centre For Excellence Close to Home programs. She suggested Mapleton could expand that in-kind support, noting Minto and Wellington North could be approached to provide additional cash support. “With the Seniors Centre for Excellence, Mapleton has kind of taken the lead with that and associated costs. It’s not free to have a seniors centre here,” said Edwards. She said a local contribution of $42,000, which could include a $10,000 in-kind contribution from Mapleton, could leverage the program’s maximum grant of $86,500. SEE GRANT » 6
‘‘
By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – The township has allocated $5,000 in support of the ongoing efforts of an organization that aims to engage and assist local youth. On Feb. 13 youth resiliency worker Gabby Ieropoli provided Mapleton council with an update on activities coordinated through the North for Youth initiative. Ieropoli explained that in 2013, the North Wellington Coalition for Youth Resiliency conducted consultations with local service providers and community members to better understand the needs of local youth. It found a need for youth engagement efforts to improve youth well-being and reduce substance misuse in northern Wellington. As a result of the coalition’s efforts, North for Youth was launched and a Community Forum in Kenilworth in February of 2015 identified a number of priorities, including: - increased awareness of opportunities/programs/services; - need for increased collaboration and youth engagement by establishing a Youth Action Council; - increased accessibility of programs;
WEEKLY WAG
“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us - Isaac Asimov who do.”
‘‘
-increased opportunities for community interaction; and - ensure momentum continues by forming a “glue group.” Initiatives have included: Northern Wellington Youth Connections Day, local leaf cleanups, employment information provision, workshops on a wide range of youthoriented topics, a distracted driving video contest for local teens and a new Youth of the Year Awards program. Youth Action Councils have also been formed in both Mapleton and Minto. The group has also conducted research with a north Wellington focus on such topics as: rural transportation options, youth harm reduction, and rural youth homelessness from a Wellington County perspective. Ieropoli notes that rather than just working from existing research from sources like the University of Guelph, the group did its own hands-on research. “We actually went out and talked to youth in the community with lived experience,” she explained. “The first one was with harm reduction, the second was youth homelessness because I think the big thing is, as service providers, we’re
BILL’S
pretty good at saying what needs to happen without actually talking to people that have been in that situation.” She added, “So we actually went out and held focus groups with youth who may be precariously housed or know someone who has been homeless and talked to them. What are the supports? What do you actually need? Because sometimes sending someone down to Guelph to the shelter is not really ideal, so we’re trying to find ways to support them better up here in the north.” Ieropoli noted municipalities, organizations and individuals have been quick to help North For Youth with its work. “It really does take a village, because there really are so many organizations and individuals that are passionate about this work and about working with our youth,” she said. Looking ahead, Ieropoli said the group plans to offer youth unemployment and entrepreneurship assistance, skill development training and workshops, experimental volunteering programs, mental health and wellness programs and develop an online youth hub website. SEE SUPPORT » 2
PAINT and COLLISION Specializing in... Collision and Complete Re-Finishing, One Mile East of Moorefield.
519 638-2048