HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – A local councillor is tired of the silent treatment from the Goderich-Huron YMCA after the drowning death of a 14-year-old girl in mid-January.
Coun. Jim Donnelly wants on a report from the YMCA that will tell him what happened on Jan. 19, when Sarah Henry-Mills, 14, was pulled unresponsive from the deep end of the pool during a birthday party at the town-owned facility in which the YMCA is contracted to run programs. The teen, from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, died in London’s Children’s Hospital three days later.
“I want for myself as a councillor and for the town to do the right thing and beyond that the decent thing. Not only for the family directly involved, but for the many persons who suffered indirectly through this tragedy,” he told council last night, asking Kathi Lomas-McGee, who is the local YMCA’s senior vice-president of operations, whether council will receive a report and when it will arrive.
“I’m not prepared at this time to speak to that as itself,” said Lomas-McGee, who was at council to ask for $40,000 ahead of budget approval to update the 2005 recreation master plan. (Council referred the expenditure request to budget discussions.) “Our official spokesperson is Jim Janzen and has been since the incident and I’m not prepared to provide any further comment.”
“ Are you prepared to relay my question or should I do that myself?” Donnelly asked.
“ I’m not prepared to comment any further,” Lomas-McGee said.
After she left, Donnelly asked council if others shared his feelings or were content to do nothing.
Mayor Deb Shewfelt said while council shared his feelings, a report would take time to complete. He said Donnelly was being “unfair” to think the matter would be resolved and a report would be delivered within a few weeks, adding that “there is a time for everything and now is not the time.”
“Absolutely, absolutely, it’s time for somebody to say ‘you’re going to get a report’ instead of pussy-footing around, concerned about liability. What we do now isn’t going to affect the liability at all. It’s a matter of doing what’s right and what’s fair,” Donnelly said.
Coun. Judy Crawford agreed with Donnelly, suggesting a YMCA spokesperson should come to council.
6 Comments on "Councillor demands YMCA report on teen’s drowning"
Coun. Donnelly is absolutely right to hold Lomas-McGee to account. The public has the right to know.
Good for Coun. Crawford for offering her own opinion and supporting Donnelly.
Disappointed in the response from the Mayor. I believe that Donnelly asked each councillor as to how they felt. That the Mayor attempted to speak for them was wrong.
To those councillors who stayed quiet….shame on you.
I agree with the mayor’s response. What is it with our society that we need information right now! I would prefer the wait to have a thoughtful, comprehensive report written – that is the ‘decent’ thing to do for the family and others who were indirectly involved.
My point Cathy was that Donnelly asked for the other points of view from councillors. The Mayor wasn’t speaking for himself in this case if you re-read the story.
That the Mayor said that it would take time isn’t the issue in my post Cathy. When that report comes it’s going to be factual and include the police investigation outcomes too.
Donnelly was right to ask the person in charge of our YMCA if a report would be issued to Council and the public.
Councillor Donnelly is acting in the best interest of those involved and our town. The Mayor, Deb Shewfelt, did not rise to the occasion to support the concern of a dedicated councillor so it begs the question again: Why??. Did the other councillors support Councillor Donnelly? Apparently only one. While I appreciate that there are ongoing investigations, Ms. Lomas-McGee showed complete disrespect when she turned her back to Mayor and Council and walked out the door.
I agree with Ann and KJH there are concerns among the community and the public and us the town’s people who are supporting this complex need or want to know what happened and why. What could have been done to prevent and what we are doing in the future to prevent this from happening again.
I agree with Ann, KJH and R. I think Councillor Donnelly did the right thing by calling out the YMCA, and asking for documentation. I do believe it is only fair to the Town of Goderich, so that tragic events like this never happen again. I have very little or zero respect for the way Mrs. Lomas-McGee addressed the situation. Let’s be honest you are the senior vice president of operations; it’s time you step forward and accept the hand that has been dealt, and work towards providing answers and solutions. I love Councillor’s statement of “pussy footing around”. I feel it sums up that situation quite well. Also, turning your back on council?? Come on! You have got to have some thick skin being the Senior VP of Operations…or so you would think.