A short meeting lingered due to kudos to each other, to past councils, to staff and then there was a bit of grandstanding – it is an election year.

Memorable Meanderings:

About Crime Stoppers: McArthur snuck in the fact that he was a journalist: “I used to be a newspaper reporter, so I must have written 1000 briefs…”.

About reporting back after conference attendances:

McArthur: “I do think, though, we have to be very careful about managing expectations, sitting in an hour long seminar and summing it up in a cogent, concise manner that fully conveys to somebody that wasn’t in that room all the lessons that were learned is a very challenging thing to do. Ron does it for a living…to sum up something that takes place over an hour or two hours, you can’t really do it justice….Councillors aren’t journalists, and to expect them to have the same skills as someone like Ron is just, is just unreasonable.”

(Most, if not all, members of council attended post-secondary institutions where typical classes are three hours long. Are we supposed to conclude that elected officials should be journalists, like McArthur, who mentioned his skills twice during this meeting?)

Deputy Mayor Gibb: “my only concern that I want to put in front of Council to think about is, when we start directing each other’s behaviour we start down a slippery slope.”

(A procedural by-law directs council’s behaviour, as does the code of conduct).

Councillor Crain: “it says here, the report shall include, at a minimum, the name and date summary of the seminars, workshops and or sessions attended. Feels like a homework assignment.”

Environmental Achievements and Awards

• Councillor Allaire congratulates the town on its environmental successes and praises the administration’s recommendations.
• Mayor Michael Prue shows the Robert Pulleybank award and shares the positive feedback from other mayors, including the mayor of Kingsbridge.
• Mayor Prue emphasizes the importance of environmental protection for future generations and highlights Amherstburg’s superior tree cover compared to other municipalities in Essex County.
• Councillor Courtney credits the Environmental Committee and council for their support and contributions to the town’s environmental efforts.

Crime Stoppers Presentation

• Rick Surette, OPP officer, summarizes the role and value of Crime Stoppers in the community.
• Crime Stoppers encourages anonymous tips that lead to crime solutions and offers cash rewards for successful tips.
• The program’s principles include anonymity, cash rewards, and protection from subpoenas for tipsters.
• Crime Stoppers has been successful in solving various crimes, including the 2011 Stanley Cup riots, with security camera footage and community tips.

Crime Stoppers Program Details

• Crime Stoppers operates as a charity and relies on donations and fundraising events for funding.
• The program receives tips through various methods, including phone calls, online submissions, and mobile apps.
• Tips can lead to arrests, charges, seizures of illegal items, and good information that helps investigators.
• The program also has a preventative aspect by deterring criminals from targeting the community due to the high visibility of Crime Stoppers.

Questions/Discussion

• McArthur asks about the amount of money paid out as rewards in 2025.
• Rick Surette explains that less than 10% of tipsters who qualify for a reward pick up the money, indicating a strong civic duty among tipsters.
• McArthur inquires about the types of tips that qualify for rewards and the process for approving rewards.
• Surette explains the board of directors uses a records management system to calculate estimated rewards based on the severity and impact of the tips.

Reports 

• Reports from Corporate Services, Parks and Recreation, and Infrastructure Services are presented and approved without discussion.
• A motion to approve a special event permit for the Good Friday procession is discussed, with Councillor McArthur suggesting to waive the policing fee, which is carried. 

Fire Department Activity Report

• Councillor Courtney asks about the disconnect in the Fire Department’s call volume report.
• Deputy Chief explains the merger of Station One and Three and the reallocation of staff between the North and South stations.
• The Fire Department is currently hiring to fill the complement of paid on-call firefighters.

Proclamation Request 

Council approved a request from the Fibromyalgia Association of Canada for a proclamation and illumination of town hall.

(Another performative action in my opinion).

Sponsorship Opportunities

Council supports the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Business Excellence Awards with a $500 sponsorship for the Employer Award.

(Councillor Crain made the motion, seconded by Deputy Mayor Gibb; both are members of the Chamber of Commerce).

Notice of Motion on Conference Reporting – almost 25 minutes long discussion

• Councillor Allaire proposes a motion requiring council members who attend conferences funded by municipal tax dollars to provide a written or verbal report to council.
• The motion is eventually amended to clarify that it applies only to conferences funded by the town of Amherstburg dollars and it is carried unanimously, directing staff to draft a formal policy for council’s consideration.