As far as media releases go, Wednesday’s city hall advisory was brimming with corporate bravado.
“With its sights set on the strengthening of its leadership and organizational management, streamlining corporate financial management and the continued renewal of the Environmental Services Department,” the release breathlessly announced, “City Council has put in motion a number of strategic changes.”
What this declaration shamefully failed to include was three people would lose their jobs in the organizational restructuring.
Why the oversight?
Does their escort out the doors of city hall cast doubt on the true motives at play?
This restructuring is predicated, in part, by the findings of a curious report presented to council last fall.
The Dobbie Report — ostensibly an organizational review of the environmental services department — noted senior managers at city hall felt the lack of staff was an issue along with the need for more advanced equipment and technology such as cell phones and laptop computers. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Community Living Elgin
Tom, Bob . . . talk to us, we’re waiting
The hand is on full-throttle damage control over at Community Living Elgin and as Times-Journal reporter Jennifer Bieman wrote Thursday, a news release sent our way prompted more questions than provided answers.
You have to chuckle when a release opens with the qualifier the organization “would like to clear up any misunderstandings, or inaccuracies in the recent articles and media statements.”
Hey, the confusion isn’t at this end, Tom and Bob.
That would be Community Living Elgin executive director Tom McCallum (no relation) and board of directors president Bob Ashcroft.
The release, by the way, was issued by the board of directors, but was unsigned. Continue reading
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Community Living Elgin cuts will improve quality of life in what way?
The cuts to staff and programs at Community Living Elgin are nothing short of devastating.
And the union’s call to action urging Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek to audit the organization’s leadership, finances and operations in a bid to bring meaningful change must not go unheeded.
OPSEU vice-president Ron Elliott ups the ante even further.
“We’ve called for the minister to put Community Living Elgin in trusteeship. To take it over, to put in a monitor.”
Citing a $700,000 deficit, the organization plans to eliminate 17 full-time positions — 64 staff cuts in total — as well as close the drop-in centre at the Talbot Teen Centre, eliminate the day support programming at 2 Curtis St., and shut down a group home on East St.
The dire situation prompted Karen Barr, whose sister has been a client of Community Living Elgin for many years and who will be negatively impacted by the cuts, to forward a copy of a letter our way addressed to executive director Tom McCallum (no relation), several directors, board president Bob Ashcroft and MPP Jeff Yurek. Continue reading
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Yes, the insurance was indeed paid
Tony Hofstee sure lit up the T-J Facebook page with his letter to the editor documenting the efforts of volunteers and committee members associated over the years with the Holiday Fantasy of Lights.
His long list of items and services paid for by the Fantasy of Lights will come as a revelation to many, including mayor and members of council
These include electrical work and supplies, upgrades to the washrooms, trees and plants for Pinafore Park, donations to other worthy organizations and the list goes on.
Tony closed his letter with the hope “the mayor and parks director Catharine Spratley apologize to the volunteers who ran the Fantasy. Yes mayor, we did pay our own insurance!”
His letter elicited dozens of responses, including this sampling:
Lori Calvert posted, “Well done Tony. I am glad someone put into print all that we (all previous and current members) did that went unnoticed. But sadly this will fall on deaf ears … if I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say ‘why didn’t they ask for volunteers?’ The bottom line is always missed. FOL didn’t ask for hand-outs and money just stop putting up road blocks and charging fees when it is for the betterment of the entire city!!!” Continue reading
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2010 Public Sector Salaries, Elgin/St. Thomas health sector
Salary figures released March 31,2011 for 2010 – 2009 salary in brackets.
St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital
Collins, Paul – President/Chief Executive Officer – $205,569.00
($204,727)
Craig, Dr. Ian – Pathologist – $240,078.28 ($469,263)
Ferizovic, Hamumka – Registered Nurse – $105,714.23 (new)
Fletcher, Kathryn Ann – Pharmacist -$122,931.17 ($115,866)
Grant, Anita – Director, Patient Care – $107,092.01 ($108,617)
Hillman, Mary-Ellen – Registered Nurse – $108,295.56 ($103,804)
Hopkins, Malcolm – Vice-president, corporate services – $154,763.82
($154,130)
Kolator-Cotnam, Susan – Pharmacist – $107,591.27 ($103,929)
Lambert, Brenda – Vice-president, patient services – $129,872.10
($128,995)
Misch, Christopher – Director, quality risk & safety – $104,920.33
(new)
Moore, Ann – Registered Nurse – $105,195.49 ($104,711)
Pinnell, Mary Katherine – Registered Nurse – $112,769.30 (new)
Thompson, Heather – Director, patient care – $105,218.27 ($105,387)
Wasty, Dr. Fasahat – pathologist – $334,805.43 ($334,805)
Elgin St. Thomas Public Health
Kuntz, Carolyn – Director, health promotion – $105,081.70 ($114,221)
McLachlin – Director, health protection – $107,110.60 ($114,221)
St. John, Cynthia – Executive Director – $135,735.60 ($150,075)
Canadian Mental Health Association, Elgin branch
Debruyn, Heather – $109,194.68 ($104,541)
Community Living Elgin
McCallum, Tom – Executive Director – $103,610.00 ($103,610)
Family and Children’s Services of St. Thomas and Elgin
Potgieter, Rod, Executive Director – $139,903.71 ($135,000)
Flegel, Dawn, Director of Service $105,224.86 (new)
West Elgin Community Health Centre
George, Kim, Physician – $203,001.00 (new)
Mardell, Kevin physician $266,891.00 ($259,400)
