Essa defers SMH audit request
by Richard Blanchard

Essa council decided Wednesday night to defer supporting a motion from Adjala-Tosorontio for an independent audit of Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston.

The motion passed by Adjala-Tosorontio in December asks that the provincial government to conduct an internal audit on the hospital's finances, operations and governance.

Mayor Dave Guergis told council that he would like to see the council wait before supporting the motion until the recently formed citizen's committee on the closing of the obstetrical unit continues working.

"I'd like to give them some time to see if some solution can be reached on the unit's future," he said. Adjala-Tosorontio's resolution was sparked by the closure of the unit.

Councillor Rick Newlove said that he would like to have some idea of the cost of an audit. "I think that it could be a lot of money," he said.

Adjala-To s o r o n t i o ' s motion was also sent to other neighbouring municipalities and to MPP Jim Wilson and MP Helena Guergis.