The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 12, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager What happened? We were as surprised as everyone else to learn last week about Dan Ferrone's sudden dismissal as the CEO and president of the Oakville YMCA after less than two months on the job. Since our story broke last Wednesday, many of our readers have expressed their shock, anger and dismay in letters criticizing the YMCA for its handing of the situation. They have submitted more letters than we have space available to print. How can someone selected from more than 100 candidates be dismissed less than two months later? Good question. We have known Ferrone for many years, first as an all-star calibre offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts, and then as a successful businessman in Oakville. Despite his success both in the sports and business world, Ferrone always found time to give back to his community, acting as the face and voice for many local charities. In announcing his appointment back in May, the Oakville YMCA credited Ferrone with helping to raise millions of dollars for local charities, including the Oakville YMCA. The press release in May stated: "His diverse business successes reflect his energetic and passionate entrepreneurial spirit. Ferrone possesses significant leadership and management experience with start-up businesses and other enterprises, including those in the health and fitness field and in a government-regulated industry. He has also gained hands-on knowledge in managing diverse and multifaceted organizations at a national level, which will make him an exceptional individual to lead the Oakville YMCA into the future." So what happened? We may never know. When it comes to dismissals, especially one as abrupt and surprising as this one, lawyers get involved and both sides clam up. Unfortunately, this affair has cast a dark shadow over both Ferrone and the Oakville YMCA. The Oakville YMCA is within its rights to dismiss Ferrone within the time period of his three-month probation. Probationary periods are designed to determined whether candidates are the right fit for their new organizations. However, based on Ferrone's qualifications and past track record of success in the community, we, like the public, can't help wondering what happened. Perhaps the whole story will surface in time, but for now, we're just left shaking our heads. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Family grateful for support We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our dear family and close friends for all their love and support over the last few weeks, as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved son Jesse Comeau, Jesse Comeau who passed away on July 11, 2009. The support of our loved ones, dear friends, co-workers, Jesse's Shell Park friends, Horizon Martial Arts family and the Thomas A. Blakelock and Bronte communities has been remarkable. We would also like to thank the Halton police and the local media for their professionalism and sensitivity during this difficult time. The generous financial contributions, which have been received toward Jesse's memorial fund, are so greatly appreciated. We are in the process of adopting a tree at Shell Park, with a commemorative plaque placed at the base in memory of Jesse, to honour him at his favourite place. Thank you just isn't enough for your kind words, thoughtful actions, generosity and support. We will treasure the memories we have of Jesse and he will live in our hearts forever. DAVID COMEAU AND KATHY Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Conservatives urge Flynn to speak up The most urgent and important issue in Oakville right now is the health of thousands of voters who want to stop the proposed gas-fired power plant in east Oakville. Yet, who is representing Oakville voters on this critical health issue at Queen's Park? No one. The air in the East Oakville-Clarkson Airshed is already 14 per cent more polluted than the Ontario average and this plant would add 3,059 metric tonnes of toxic emissions and 254 metric tones of ultra fine particulate matter into Oakville's air -- and our lungs. Already the most common reason children are admitted to hospital in Halton is respiratory ailments. This proposed plant is a bad idea. It is inexcusable that the person Oakville voters elected twice to represent their interests at Queen's Park -- MPP Kevin Flynn -- refuses to do so. At a recent rally against the power plant, he claimed that as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy he can't speak out because the Integrity Commissioner told him he'd be breaking the law. This is an absurd claim. The Integrity Commissioner only responds to questions as they are given. Kevin Flynn knows well that all he has to do is to step down as Parliamentary Assistant to eliminate any potential conflict so he can act on our behalf. It has been done before. Former Oakville Conservative MPP Gary Carr made the choice in 1998 to give up any chance of getting a Parliamentary Assistant's premium pay of $12,000 and chose his constituents welfare before his own interest, when he fought against his own government on "downloading", the issue of the day. And what happened to Mr. Carr? He was reelected in 1999 and is now our regional chair. On the other hand, Mr. Flynn has chosen party loyalty and personal advancement over the health of his constituents. Voters should remember this in the next election. PETER TURKINGTON, PRESIDENT, ONTARIO PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION OF OAKVILLE In Ferrone's corner Having known Dan Ferrone for over 35 years we feel qualified to comment on his integrity and compassion for his fellow man. His work ethic, charitable fundraising and community involvement is second to none. What type of organization describes that as "not a good fit"? One must wonder. JACKIE AND RANDY SMITH