June 27 email to council members regarding a June 26 council meeting new business discussion.

Once again, thank you Councillor Pouget for taking an interest in and representing constituents’ concerns and the disability community regarding signs obstructing sidewalks.

You may recall that on May 5 I requested a sign by-law review be undertaken, along with a report on the enforcement of it. I mentioned signs, furniture and retail displays impede pedestrian rights of way and the removal of barriers needs to be more of a priority.

I followed up in a June 23 email.

I understand from the June 26 council meeting that a review may be underway. Councillor Pouget said she would prefer that we not wait until fall for a report and wondered why they just can’t go into a business and ask them to remove the obstructions on the sidewalks.

I wonder how accessibility and inclusivity can be a priority if we must wait until fall and be concerned with negative impacts on businesses?

After having read the Sign By-law, I would like an explanation for the wait when sections of the by-law already allow for the Chief Building Official to remove a sign without notice if it obstructs a sidewalk.

As for enforcement, the Sign By-law stipulates that Police Officers of the Town of Amherstburg Police Services and By-law Enforcement Officers of the Corporation shall have the duty of enforcing the provisions of this by-law. The Windsor Police Agreement continued with this practice of by-law enforcement.