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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Printed in Canada Volume 117 Number 41

Trustee accused of confidentiality breach

By Peggy Revell Staff writer

INSIDE

Rainy River District School Board trustee David Kircher has been accused of breaching confidentiality after information on changes to senior administration severance packages approved by the former board at its final meeting was made public. Concern over a possible breach was raised during last weeks monthly board meeting when for-

mer chair and current trustee Dan Belluz stated that following Januarys board meeting, he went out for coffee and information discussed during the in-camera session was the topic of conversation. Belluz noted that when he brought the possible breach to the attention of the director of education, who then notified board chair Michael Lewis, he did not name any trustee. But when given time by Lewis to state their sides at last weeks

meeting, Kircher stated he had been the one to share the information, although he disagreed with it being a breach of the Trustee Code of Conduct. In fact, the activities of the 2010 board are in stark contrast to the defined intent and rationale of the Code of Conduct, he charged. The fact of the matter is the 2010 board, by resolution, amended the contracts of senior management by quadrupling the severance payout for dismissal, Kircher

noted. Said amendments created a new potential cost to the current board of about $1.3 million, or three percent of the boards current budget, he remarked, noting this decision was not reported as required during the open session of the Nov. 2 meeting. Kircher also said the former board had the audacity to do this after the results of the October municipal election were known and only two of seven trustees would

be returning. Mr. Belluz, as chair of the 2010 board, does not want this amendment out in the public arena, as he may have to explain the activities of the previous board to [his] constituents, Kircher said. The shroud of secrecy surrounding the 2010 board has, at least in this matter, been pierced. The new board first addressed the issue over the amended contracts for both Education Director Please see Trustee, A6

Concert to feature local Heroes

Local talent is set to shine later this month for what has been dubbed the Hometown Heroes concert. Featuring comedian Ryan McMahon, as well as Wab Kinew, Lac La Croixs Angus Jourdain, Mack Sickz, and Larissa Desrosiers, the concert is slated for the evening of Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Couchiching multi-use facility.

Annual chefs dinner raises $6,500

By Duane Hicks Staff writer The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Districts sixthannual Chefs Charitable Dinner and Auction was a success this past Sunday at the Adventure Inn here, raising $6,500 for the further promotion of Alzheimer awareness and education. Executive director Lynn Moffatt said more than 70 people attended the fundraiser, which she considered a success. We are grateful for all the community support of those who attended the dinner, volunteers and local business and chefs that donated towards the menu and prize auctions, she remarked. The event was a huge success with proceeds of approximately $6,500, which allows us to raise awareness and provide support to families and make a real difference, Moffatt added. She noted Alzheimers disease is extremely heartbreaking for those diagnosed with it, as well as their loved ones, and the local Alzheimer Society is working very hard to offer increase support and educational services to support families and the growing number of Alzheimers patients. The menu for the sit-down dinner was prepared by local chefs and donated by local businesses. It featured starters, like a cheese trey donated by Canada Safeway, whitefish cakes with wild rice salad prepare by Seven Generations Education Institute the Culinary Arts Program students under the guidance of chef Ryan Parisien, Oriental Thai salad (Lee Garden), and penne pasta with red sauce (Boston Pizza). This was followed up by the entredate-stuffed pork tenderloin (donated by Cloverleaf and prepared by Seven Generations), baked rosemary potatoes (Cater 2 U), carrot and green bean medley (La Flambe), and dinner rolls (The Place and Canada Safeway). A selection of pies, cheesecakes, cookies, and cakes were served up courtesy of the Circle D Family Restaurant, Emo Inn, Iris Gogosha, Subway Sandwiches and Salads, and Rainycrest. Coffee and tea was provided by Tim Hortons, with A&W donating the cream and sugar, and CC Complex/Chester Fried Chicken offering assorted juices. The evening also was a chance to showcase the Alzheimer Society, what it does, and the impact of the disease on an increasing number of people. Please see Annual, A7

See story on A3

100-block tower
St. Michaels students Roman and Ander Spuzak, along with Koda Radigan and Hailey Boshey (not pictured), stacked up 100 blocks as high as they could during activities yesterday morning to mark the 100th day of school. Peggy Revell photo

Local witnesses Egyptian uprising

A Fort Frances bush pilot said he feels honoured to have witnessed history after an ordinary vacation to Egypt ended up with him caught in the midst of an uprising that has leapt onto the world stage.

Sedgwick saluted as top librarian

By Duane Hicks Staff writer The chief librarian and CEO of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre was honoured as Public Librarian of the Year for 2011 by the Ontario Library Boards Association last week. Margaret Sedgwick was presented with the W.J. Robertson Medallion for outstanding leadership in the advancement of public library services in Ontario on Thursday in Toronto at the annual public library awards dinner held in conjunction with the OLBAs annual Super Conference (Feb. 2-5). I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award, Sedgwick said Monday, having just returned from the conference. Sedgwick was nominated for the award by Arlene Georgeson, vicechair of the Fort Frances Public Library board, who credited Sedgwick for her dedication in getting the new Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre built. For the past 15 years, Margarets focus has been a new library building for Fort Frances, Georgeson wrote in her nomination. During the past three years, that focus was intensified, beginning with a fundraising campaign that raised over $865,000 in a town with a population of less than 9,000, she noted. Then came the grant writing, the planning, the hundreds of hours in meetings, and hurdle after hurdle culminating in the idea of not just a new library building, but a Library Technology Centre, focusing on the new public library as it exists in the 21st century, Georgeson added. Sedgwicks contributions towards the building of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre were many, and throughout the project she was open, adaptable, inviting, and stubborn, continued Georgeson. She would stand solidly on topics dear to her heart and the hearts of patrons, but would offer inspiration and encouragement at times when there was doubt and disappointment. And no one involved in its completion will forget the smile on Margarets face at the grand opening, giving heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, praising her staff, the library board, all levels of government and individuals too numerous to remember. Its Margarets contagious Please see Sedgwick, A6

See story on A5

Girl goalies grab spotlight

If Team Canada is in need of some goaltending prospects for the womens hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, they only had to look as far as the Memorial Sports Centre last weekend to see some of the top netminders of the future.

See story on B1

Margaret Sedgwick, chief librarian and CEO of the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, proudly displayed her W.J. Robertson Medallion for outstanding leadership in the advancement of public library services in Ontario. Duane Hicks photo

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A6 FORT FRANCES TIMES

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Trustee accused of confidentiality breach

More from A1 Heather Campbell and Superintendent of Education Laura Mills during Januarys in-camera session with the board moving to report in public that the contracts had been amended. Following this meeting, the Fort Frances Times requested more details concerning the amended contracts from Lewis and board administration, who declined comment with further information. Currently, the Times has filed a request with the board under the provinces Freedom of Information Act for the contract details, and is awaiting the 30-day time period before the board is required to respond. But following the boards in-camera meeting last month, Kircher stated he believed the new board had decided the information was open to the public, citing the Municipal Freedom of Information Act which he believes makes this information exempt from privacy and non-disclosure policies. The 2010 board, by its various actions, demonstrated its desire to keep what the board had enacted out of the public arena and away from the current board for as long as possible, contrary to both the Education Act and the MFIPP Act, Kircher charged. Belluz refused to make any public comment on the letters of intent (which the contract amendments are referred to as) because he said it is unclear whether the exact nature of the information included in them was public or not. Belluz defended the actions of the old board, however, pointing to the section of the Education Act pertaining to the disclosure of intimate personal or financial information, and how the he had sought legal advice from a lawyer when the old board was dealing with this matter. His suggestion was that since it was a personal contract, it falls under this part of the legislation, and we followed his advice, said Belluz, declining to tell Kircher the name of the lawyer from whom advice was sought. My concern is that when we go in-camera and we have a discussion, and the next day one trustee decides that it should have not been in-camera and he discusses the in-camera, comes back to this board and we, as a board, decide, Well, maybe we shouldnt have discussed that in-camera because its public information I guess my question is, why did we even discuss it in-camera period at that time? Belluz asked. If the majority of the board felt the discussion should be done in public, they should have ceased discussion in-camera and brought it to the public agenda, Belluz argued. [Chair Lewis], after the meeting, had reported quite correctly that we had discussed two letters of intent, and thats the only information that [he] disclosed, Belluz said about what followed the incamera session. But Kircher said that when Lewis reporting discussion of the letter of intent, alongside the majority of the board feeling the former boards actions should be public, meant the issue no longer was an in-camera one. Citing Section. 14.1(f) of the Freedom of Information legislation, Kircher stated that disclosure of personal information is permitted if the disclosure does not constitute an unjustified invasion of personal privacy. To determine if the disclosure of personal information constitutes an justified invasion of privacy, the act states that a disclosure of personal information is desirable for the purpose of subjecting the activities of the institution to public scrutiny, argued Kircher, something that the 2010 board and current board should be subjected to. As well, Kircher pointed to Sec. 14.(4).(a) of the act, which excludes the classifications salary ranges and benefits of employment responsibilities of an individual who is, or was, an officer of employee of the institution from non-disclosure. Kircher also highlighted Section 16 the act, which states that: If there is compelling public interest in the disclosure of the personal information that clearly outweighs the purpose of the exemptions from disclosure, Section 16 waives the exemptions from disclosure contained in Sections 7, 9, 11, 13, and 14 of the Act. The intent being [that] publiclyfunded institutions not use personal information to conduct board business, in-camera, particularly when the business involves public fund, he argued. Kircher said this case also shows the need for lame duck legislation, where outgoing boards cannot impose financial burdens on the incoming ones. And with the statements from the trustees being taken over the breach, Kircher requested that the board not go in-camera to discuss his fate. But Lewis stated that given the nature of the issue, this is basically the trustees that have to decide whether this is a breach, and trustees should decide amongst themselves if there is a breach with people not present first. Once this is decided, Lewis said they would announce the decision publicly. As per policy when it comes to breaches of the Trustee Code of Conducts, the board met privately following the end of the last weeks regular meeting to discuss whether or not there was a breach. Following this, Lewis reported to the Times that trustees hadnt been able to reach a decision, and the issue will be held over to be discussed at Marchs meeting.

Sedgwick saluted as top librarian

More from A1 enthusiasm, her concern for libraries as a whole, that makes us most proud, Georgeson concluded. The next generation of librarians will most certainly have to look to the efforts of our librarian [Margaret] to see how far they can go. In her acceptance speech, Sedgwick said the building of the new Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre has certainly been the highlight of my career. While planning for the new facility, each year for at least the past seven years when we came to the warm south for OLA, my board chair and I would rent a car and visit new or renovated libraries within driving distance of Toronto, she noted. Over the years, we visited, and sometimes re-visited, over 55 libraries. The connections and friendships we made with those visits is testimony to the generosity and sharing nature of the library community, Sedgwick said. Sedgwick graduated from the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario in 1977 and her first job out of school was chief librarian of the Fort Frances Public Library, where shes remained ever since. As we all know, libraries are always changing and evolving, said Sedgwick. Thats why it wasnt difficult to stay in the same position throughout my career. We all work to make our libraries the best they can be and right now, I can honestly say right at this moment, Fort Frances is close to the top of the heap, she added. Now comes the challenge to continue to grow and advance. I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone planning a trip to Western Canada to stop by and visit our beautiful new facility, concluded Sedgwick. Its worth the trip. The award is named after William John Robertson, a founding member of the OLBA and among the 33 originals who established the first constitution at the first annual meeting of the association in April, 1901. Robertson became the fourth OLBA president in 1905, and was the first trustee to be elected into the position. Robertson was twice chair of the St. Catharines Free Library Board. The W.J. Robertson Medallion recognizes and honours significant contributions to the library profession. The president of the association always presents the medallion at the annual public library awards dinner held in conjunction with the annual Super Conference. The OLBA receives nominations for the award, with selection of the successful candidate based on significant contributions in at least one of the following criteria: demonstrated innovation in the advancement of the library profession; promotion of library services through any means of dissemination of information; demonstrated creative uses of technology in the delivery of library and information services; and creation of original work, regardless of the medium used, which substantially contributes to the improvement of library services.

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Fort Frances Area Forecast

Kenora

-21 / -11
Vermillion Bay Dryden

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Rainy River

-25 / -10
Sioux Narrows

-23 / -11

Upsala

-25 / -10 FEB. 10 to 12. Normal to mild temperatures. Cloudy skies. Occasional snow. FEB. 17 to 19. Mild to normal temperatures. Cloudy skies. Occasional flurries

-24 / -9
Nestor Falls

-24 / -9
Emo

-23 / -9

-23 / -9
Fort Frances

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International Falls

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www.weathertec.mb.ca 2011 Weather Tec Services. Inc.

Temperatures shown on the map are NORMALS averaged over a thirty year periiod. Arrows indicate general WIND FLOW patterns.

FEB. 13 to 16. Mild temperatures. A mix of sun and cloud.

Thursday, February 10th ... Cloudy skies. Occasional snow. Normal termperatures Low near -25C. High near -13C.

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Saturday, February 12th ... Cloudy skies. Occasional snow. Mild temperatures. Low near -16C. High near -1C.

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Friday, February 11th ... Cloudy skies. Occasional snow. Milder temperatures. Low near -18C. High near -2C. Outlook for Sunday, February 13th to Saturday, February 19th, 2011 ... Cloudy skies with occasional snow on Sunday. A mix of sun and cloud expected on Monday to Wednesday. Cloudy skies with occasional flurries on Thursday to Saturday. Temperatures will be mild to normal. Lows will be -18to -12C. Highs will be -6 to -1C. Daylight on February 10th lasts for 9 Hours and 57 Minutes. Sunrise: 7:30 AM. and Sunset: 5:27 PM.

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METRIC CONVERSION (to change mm to inches divide by 25) C 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25

F 95 86 77 68 59 50 41 32 23 14

-4 -13