Guelph-Eramosa council has accepted amendments to its Emergency Response Plan.
On Dec. 4 Linda Dickson, Wellington County’s community emergency manager coordinator, said there were several changes proposed for the municipality’s emergency response plan.
The biggest change she identified was that the Municipal Emergency Control Group, responsible for directing Guelph-Eramosa’s response in an emergency, can now be comprised only of councillors and township staff.
Previously the group has included other stakeholders like the police, emergency medical service, paramedic services and public health. Now those organizations will be labeled supporting agencies, but their goals and responsibilities will remain the same.
The members will consist of the head of council, a senior official (CAO), fire chief, senior municipal road authority official, senior municipal water/waste water official and a community emergency management coordinator.
Dickson explained an alternate can still be appointed in an emergency.
“Subsections list the members of the Municipal Emergency Control Group and their individual roles and responsibilities during an emergency and members of the control group may from time to time … delegate a member of their staff to represent them during an emergency response,” Dickson said. “So, it’s still saying we can have alternates and you can appoint an alternate and have them there.”
Another amendment to the Emergency Response Plan is identifying Wellington County’s communications manager as Guelph-Eramosa’s emergency information officer. This individual will be responsible for providing information about an emergency to the media.
At the same meeting Dickson provided a general report on the status of the emergency management program.
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester asked if Dickson had any concerns or suggestions that Guelph-Eramosa should address.
Dickson said though there are always improvements to be made, she doesn’t have any suggestions for Guelph-Eramosa. But she cited the response to June floods in Drayton and Harriston as examples of an emergency management system.
