PUBLICATION The Halifax Chronicle-Herald
DATE Sunday June 27, 1999
PAGE A7
BYLINETera Camus
HEADLINE:
New JAG boss off to rocky beginning
Sydney - The Joint Action Group has a new chairman.
Retired lieutenant-colonel Dan Fraser was elected from a field of
three candidates during the group's annual general meeting on
Saturday.
But his victory caused one member, Marc Ferris, to storm out,
accusing JAG staff of deliberately stacking the deck by unfairly
lobbying members to get him elected.
"Don't tell me the feds didn't bring you in here," Mr. Ferris
shouted as he left.
Mr. Fraser, a member of JAG for only eight months, was featured in a
newsletter mailed out by JAG's paid staff a week ago, though the 40-
member group's public information committee did not approve. Mr.
Ferris said such a move would be unfair to other candidates.
But Mr. Fraser, who defeated former vice-chairwoman Slawa Lamont and
longtime member Doug MacKinlay, said he hopes to ease the tension
among citizens, bureaucrats and organization members in order for
JAG to help solve Sydney's toxic-waste problems.
"I hope so, because Marc and I have gotten along well throughout this process," he said.
"He offers a lot and does a lot of work . . . and I hope whatever it
is that concerns him, he'll get over it fairly quickly. Then we can
work together to make this happen . . . that is, clean up the Muggah
Creek watershed. That's what it's all about."
Other newly elected executive members include vice-chairwoman
Gerardette Brown, secretary Barb Lewis and treasurer Terry Mulcahy.
The six members appointed to the decision-making steering committee
are Glen Hanham, Mary Ruth MacLellan, Asta Antoff, Bob Morgan, Harry
Muldoon and Susan Miayo.
Mr. Fraser, who retired last year after 35 years of service at
Maritime Command, hopes to continue where departing chairman Bucky
Buchanan left off.
"I would like to see more people out, more people involved," he said.
"What we hope to do . . . is advise the people in the local area
just exactly what is going on so they will understand the
difficulties associated with the cleanup. Hopefully once they
understand, then we can get on with the cleanup.
