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By DIANE HART Special to the Beaver Although a former member of the Halton District Health Council has resigned in protest over the sudden departure of its former executive director charging there was a "bad smell" over the whole thing, the newly appointed health council boss says all is well. Health Council furor centres on exec‘s dismissal Three members of the council have resigned following the deparâ€" ture of boss Marlene Longdon, two of which were in protect over her departure. Former council member, Ed Babb, noted his strong opposition to her dismissal in a letter received by the council on Wednesday saying there was a "bad smell" over the way the matter was handled. Asked after Wednesday evening‘s meeting if he believed the roof was caving in on the HDHC due to the mounting furor over the dismissal of Longdon, David Hough responded, "Quite the contrary. The council went through a strategic retreat." Hough said he believed the counâ€" cil will work together on shared goals. concern to the Ministry addressed the council about her conâ€" cerns in a closed door meeting. The third to resign from the counâ€" cil was chair Shelagh Gill who has said the reasons she was leaving are personal and unrelated to the deparâ€" ture of Longdon. Asked if he sees any disarray on the council at all, Hough said no. "I have no sense of disarray at all," he replied. There was no indication by Hough that he would spearhead any move to look into the matter any further. In his letter, Babb detailed the reaâ€" sons for his "strong objection to the dismissal" of Longdon, and said, it was her responsibility as executive director to inform the executive comâ€" mittee of her concerns with the way PuD the contract with hospital utilization study and the HDHC had been conâ€" ducted. The $150,000 hospital utilization study by health care consultant Dr. John Atkinson, of John Atkinson Health Care Professionals Inc., look at ways in which Halton hospitals could better use their resources. In his letter, Babb expressed conâ€" cern about $6,000 he believed was paid to John Atkinson above and beyond the price of the contract. Hough later told the Beaver the payments to Atkinson did not exceed the council‘s budget for undertaking the contract. He said all of the payâ€" ments made to the contractor were reviewed by council and determined to be legitimate under the terms of the contract. "I share some of Babb‘s concern," commented consumer appointee Kate Murray, appointed to the council since June. "‘My concern is with the slew of resignations. Resigning is not the way to deal with things. People shouldn‘t be resigning, but finding out information about what‘s going on," she said. She took issue with the suggestion by acting chair Deanna Williamsâ€" Laws that the HDHC send a letter to Grier saying that the council feels comfortable with the contract and the process, and feels strongly that the hospital study is important to Halton. Williamsâ€"Laws also commented that Babb was not "fully apprised of the process." RE: ADOPTION OF OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 78 West Oak Trails Employment Lands TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Oakville passed Byâ€"law 1993â€"147 which adopts Official Plan Amendment No. 78 on November 29, 1993, under section 17 of the Planning Act, 1983; AND TAKE NOTICE that any person or agency may request the Regional Municipality of Halton to refer the Official Plan Amendment . t> the Ontario Municipal Board in accordance with the Planning Act. "The location of the land affected by this amendment is bounded by Upper Middle Road on the south, Highway 5 (Dundas Street) on the: north, Highway 25 on the east, and Bronte Creek Park on the west. Part of Lots 31 through 33, Concession 1, S.D.S. ‘ Official Plan Amendment No. 78 is available for review in the office of the undersigned, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Any questions may be directed to the Town‘s Planning Services Department at 338â€"4190, extension 3041. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 10th day of December, 1993. Judith Muncaster ‘ Clerk Town 0t witon TOWN OF OAKVILLE wme ~. ue 1225 Trafalgar Road E7 3 . Oakville, Ontario 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD + OAKVILLE, ONTARIO « LGH 2L1 Treasurer Don Scott said the HDHC books are audited on a reguâ€" lar basis and that the Ministry of Health receives the financial stateâ€" ments of the HDHC. She said Oakville mayor Ann 7 Mulvale will head the nominating 2: committee for a new chair of the £ HDHC and fill the vacancies on the Y council. It is expected the will not be filled until the New Year. = "As a council, we have nothing to > hide," commented Williamsâ€"Laws. fi The letter by Babb was not disâ€" tributed to the press until after the meeting had adjourned. During the meeting, copies of studies, minutes, and letters were not available to the press until after the items had been approved by the council. Generally, information, minutes, studies, or anyâ€" thing up for discussion at any public meeting is available to the media at the start of the meeting. by Steve Nease