Amherstburg Open Air Access Survey
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Amherstburg Police Services Board’s Decision Re Cheap Silver Police Retirement Badge
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Mayor DiCarlo confirmed that it was a Board decision to provide a cheap silver retirement badge to Sgt. Jim Saxon and he did anticipate it might be an issue. Nothing changed.
Two sets of badges were ordered – one in silver for all retiring officers in 2013/2014 and another in gold for everyone but Sgt. Saxon.
As of November 18, 2014, APSB members were John Sutton, Frank Cleminson, Pauline Gemmell and Wayne Hurst.
Also posted to bullyinginpolicing.com on the saxon page.
Amherstburg Fire Department Website Issues
Privacy and Accessibility are two concerns when using the Amherstburg Fire Department website.
Privacy
The site lacks a Notice of Collection and use of personal information.
Section 29(2) of the provincial MFIPPA Act state that when collecting personal information, unless an exception applies, an institution must provide the individual to whom the personal information relates with notice which includes specific details on the following three requirements:
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- the legal authority for the collection;
- the principle purpose(s) for which the personal information is intended to be used;
- the title, business address and telephone number of a person employed by the institution who can answer questions about the collection.
In response to a concern that personal information was shared with unaffected parties, Fire Chief Montone stated, “When you make an inquiry to my office, I have always, and will always include members of my staff and the corporation I represent who are very aware of the confidentiality and sensitivity required and expected…”
Accessibility
As for accessibility issues, Aaron Peterson, Web & Print Boutique responded, “The website passed WCAG Level AA when we built it.”
Paula Parker and John Miceli mentioned third party vendors at a September 14, 2020 council meeting, In response to a request for a list of vendors Ms. Parker stated, while this review is underway and not yet complete, I cannot at this time provide a thorough list. A report is expected to be available in 2021 with suggestions from Administration for efficiencies in service delivery and a streamlined approach to web content delivery.”
An FOI request on the matter is outstanding.
Thrive Amherstburg Wants Open Air To Continue And More Money Spent On It
Thrive! Amherstburg will present its white paper on Open Air to council at its Tuesday, October 12 meeting.
The group recommends:
- Continue with Open Air in 2022
- Invest at least an additional $20,500 in new programming in 2022
Some municipalities closed their downtown to support retail operations and specifically did not include entertainment or additional costs to the taxpayers.
Amherstburg Fire Chief Montone Discloses Open Air Assessment
Following an online request, Amherstburg Fire Chief Bruce Montone did not think 5 business days was an unreasonable amount of time and disclosed:
Events – afd a document that is provided on occasion to event organizers should they require additional guidance.
There are no specific dates for the original 2020 or the 2021 review.
Paula Parker Spent Her Career Focused On Increasing Accountability and Transparency
On Friday, October 1, 2021, The Town of Kingsville was happy to announce that Paula Parker will join the Town’s administrative team as its new Clerk.
Along with acknowledging her experience and education, the news included, “Paula has spent her career focused on increasing accountability and transparency and ensuring corporate compliance with many pieces of legislation.”
Amherstburg Has Another Interim CAO
CKLW am800 reports Tony Haddad, retired Tecumseh CAO will begin immediately, replacing Antoniettia Giofu, Director of Engineering and Public Works, Amherstburg.
Amherstburg’s CAO History
| Name | Title |
| Tom Kilgallin | CAO |
| Bill King | CAO |
| Hilary Payne | interim/CAO |
| Frank Pizzuto | CAO |
| Pam Mallott | CAO |
| Paul Beneteau | Acting CAO/Treasurer |
| Joe Levack | Acting CAO |
| Kristina DiPaolo | Acting CAO |
| Mike Phipps | CAO |
| John Miceli | CAO |
| Susan Hiroto | interim CAO |
| Antoinetta Giofu | interim CAO |
| Tony Haddad | interim CAO October 2, 2021 |
Two More Employees Leave Amherstburg Town Hall
CKLW am800 reports Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says town clerk Paula Parker and town treasurer Justin Rousseau are both leaving the municipality.
Paula Parker will not be missed.
Amherst – What’s In A Name?
CBC reported in 2017 on the dark history of Jeffrey Amherst, including text from one of Amherst’s letter;
“You will do well to try to inoculate the Indians by means of blankets, as well as to try every other method that can serve to extirpate this execrable race. I should be very glad your scheme for hunting them down by dogs could take effect, but England is at too great a distance to think of that at present,” wrote Amherst in a 1763 letter.
The September 29, 2021 River Town Times reports, Councillor calls for no reference to Jeffrey Amherst in new school name.
“McArthur said he preferred if the new school would have a new name, free of any Jeffrey Amherst references, stating Jeffrey Amherst advocated genocide against the Indigenous population in the 1700s. The councillor did say he opposed changing the name of the town, noting residents have made it a beautiful and inclusive community.“I don’t think we should change the name of the town,” he said, adding people “have made it their own” despite the man for whom it was named.”
Is it not hypocritical to promote ‘a step towards reconciliation’ for the new high school, when council has no jurisdiction to do so, yet dismiss the idea of a name change for the town?
Unblocked Access to Canada Post: Councillor Marc Renaud on Open Air Complaint
All members of council were asked, How necessary is it to block access to the post office during the open air weekends? Isn’t the post office an essential service as opposed to a retail establishment? It’s especially important for use by persons with disabilities; I’m not sure if you considered that, seeing as only one person with a disability was consulted.
Only Councillor Marc Renaud responded: I have been downtown for most open air weekends. There is unblocked access to Canada post parking at Precision Jewellers.
Follow up comments with further questions: You must have not witnessed an enthusiastic crossing guard on Friday afternoon stopping traffic from travelling west of Ramsay Street to park in front of the post office or the jewelry store. You also might not have seen an irate driver squeal his tires as he left the area after she stopped him.
Your personal anecdote offers little to address a very important issue regarding the controversial open air weekends. Given that the mayor confirmed only one person with a disability was consulted, i’m not assured that accessibility is a priority.
Perhaps you could explain why accessibility features, now being considered in this evening’s report, were not included at the time of procurement and renovations for the community hub? Did the AAAC inspect the site plans? With regard to spending taxpayer dollars, the tenants are equally liable for half the accessibility expenditures so why are taxpayers being asked to pay their share?
No one responded to date.
This week’s River Town Times article on a new Open Air survey reports that this year traffic is blocked off on Richmond Street from Ramsay to Dalhousie Street. Therefore, access to Canada Post is blocked.
Court Hearing Lepofsky v. Accessibility Minister Raymond Cho September 27
Monday September 27, 2021 10 AM Court Virtual Hearing Livestream: Blind Disability Advocate David Lepofsky Argues Disability Rights Case Against Accessibility Minister Raymond Cho
September 24, 2021 Toronto: On Monday, September 27, 2021 at 10 a.m., the Divisional Court of Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice will hold a public virtual hearing for the oral argument of a case brought by blind lawyer, law professor, and volunteer disability rights advocate David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance, against Ontario’s Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, the Honourable Raymond Cho. In Lepofsky v, Cho,. Lepofsky asks the Court to issue a declaration that Minister Cho violated section 10(1) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). This is the first time someone has gone to court to contest the sufficiency of the Ontario Government’s implementation of the AODA, and to get a judicial interpretation of the AODA.
The case is scheduled for about two hours. It will be livestreamed to the public on Youtube at https://youtu.be/LuD6fKu0dlE As far as is now known, it will only be available online for livestreaming in real time.
Full press release at aoda alliance site.
13 Months to Municipal Elections 2022
“So, if we lie to the government, it’s a felony. If they lie to us, it’s politics.” Bill Murray
VOTE on Monday, October 24, 2022.
14 Months to Municipal Elections 2022
“An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.” George Eliot; Felix Holt, the Radical
VOTE on Monday, October 24, 2022.
Amherstburg’s CAO and 2 officials were dismissed, mayor confirms
CBC reports,Three officials from the Town of Amherstburg, including its former chief administrative officer (CAO), were officially dismissed, according to the mayor.
As of Thursday, former CAO John Miceli, director of planning and development service Nicole Rubuli, and director of corporate services Cheryl Horrobin were no longer employed by the southwestern Ontario town, according to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo.
Amherstburg appoints second acting CAO in a week
Trevor Wilhelm, Windsor Star, reports, “Town lawyer Susan Hirota was appointed Amherstburg’s acting CAO after three staff were told to leave town property on Aug. 9. On Tuesday, the Town of Kingsville announced Hirota will be moving to their organization as the director of Legal and Clerk Services.
Mayor DiCarlo Questions Media Request, Again
On Friday, August 13, theburgwatch emailed Mayor Aldo DiCarlo, as a member of the media, and requested:
1. the press release you issued regarding staff being escorted out of town hall
2. that this email address be added to media lists for the issuing of notices to the media
3. a copy of the notice of cancellation of the August 9, 2021 council meeting.
Mayor DiCarlo questioned theburgwatch’s credentials, to which the reply confirmed that we already had this discussion in October 2020.
On today’s date, Mayor DiCarlo provided the media release as a public document, not as a media request.
A link to the cancelled council meeting was provided: https://calendar.amherstburg.ca/council/Detail/2021-08-09-1800-Regular-Council-Meeting-Public-Participation-via-L
As for being included in the media, the Mayor’s understanding appears to pertain to ‘media outlet,’ a traditional, or old media, definition. My understanding of ‘member of the media,’ includes new media.
If press releases were posted on the town’s website, one might conclude there is a willingness to embrace open government.
NOTE: In February 2020, I requested council establish a protocol to respond to inquiries from taxpayers and the media.
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