Author Archives: theburgwatch

About theburgwatch

Amherstburg's first local blogger since 2011, writing about town council and issues.

Deputy Mayor Gibb On Policing Options/Windsor Contract

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At the February 8, 2023 Special Council Meeting, Mayor Prue asked if there were any further questions. Deputy Mayor Gibb said he didn’t really have a question, although his statement lasted approximately 4 minutes, some of which was repetitive and redundant.

He reiterated the purpose of the meeting: to determine if they were going to renew this contract and mentioned what happened in the past has happened; it’s done. Then he thought they had 4 options:

  1. restart our own police service, which he thought the cost would be overwhelming and noted the reserves that we were supposed to have put aside, aren’t there. Also, there are 10 months before the end of this contract.
  2. partner with LaSalle; he mentioned startup costs with that, LaSalle’s cost per resident is much higher and again, there are 10 months before the end of this contract.
  3. the OPP; there’s a significant cost difference to the OPP of around $2 million a year. Initially, he said the other municipal leaders have all said they’re not satisfied with, then stated he shouldn’t say they’ve all said, certain ones have said they’re not satisfied with the service they’re getting from the OPP. And again, there are 10 months before the end of this contract.
  4. renew the Windsor contract, which he didn’t think was a bad option because:
    • we’re saving money over what our own service would have cost;
    • the survey results from late 2022; 
    • his day job encounters with people who interact with the police
    • he’s never heard that they haven’t received exemplary service.
    • we don’t really have a choice at this point
    • he feels the Windsor police Amherstburg detachment does a great job protecting Amherstburg; they do it at a reasonable cost.

He felt they were going to have to vote to go with the recommendation and eventually moved to receive the report and go forward with renewing the Windsor police contract for the next five years. Carried.

Mayor Michael Prue acknowledged he snuck it in very very good.

Listen to the audio.

EDITED: I emailed Deputy Mayor Gibb with a follow up question: you stated there’s a significant cost difference to the OPP of around $2 million a year; is that $2 million a year of savings or $2 million a year in higher costs?

His response: I believe what I said is that it appears as if the OPP model of policing would be around $2 million per year less than our current WPD-Amherstburg Detachment policing model as per the attached 2022 budget documents.

Amherstburg’s net total cost of policing was pegged at around $5,397,437 (bottom right of Amherstburg police.pdf document)
Essex’s net total cost of policing was pegged at around $3,073,673 ($3,054,032 police + $19,641 police board)
Kingville’s net total cost of policing was pegged at around $3,391,714.
So, the OPP model for Essex and Kingsville appears to be around $2 million per year less than Amherstburg’s.

more to follow.

Councillor Crain Answers Question About Promised Public Consultations

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I requested members of council defer the decision at tonight’s meeting to renew the Windsor Police Service contract pending promised public consultations, to no avail.

The only response I received was from Councillor Linden Crain:

Thank you for your email. Tonight’s open public meeting is the consultation as promised. The Windsor Police Service also completed a telephone survey in Amherstburg.

The two and half week survey between November 29 and December 18, 2022 indicates 90% of approximate 1% of residents feel safe.

Appendix C – Service Satisfaction Survey – Forum Research Inc.pdf

Where Are Promised Public Consultations On Policing?

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The January 23, 2023 recommendation to direct the CAO to exercise the renewal clause is contrary to the December 5, 2022 recommendation, and subsequent council motion, to extend the deadline to renew to March 31, 2023 so public consultations could be held.

Read the agenda and reports:

February 8, 2023 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Special In-Camera Council Meeting

February 8, 2023 5:00 p.m. –
1.Renewal of Policing Services Contract with Windsor Police Services.pdf
2.Appendix A – Policing Statistics in the Town of Amherstburg 2019-2022.pdf
3.Appendix B – Special Unit Usage Statistics.pdf
4.Appendix C – Service Satisfaction Survey – Forum Research Inc.pdf

In 2019, I wrote if we, like Orangeville, were to expect an accumulated savings of $58 million by 2036 by switching to OPP, I would have no objections. However, since we expect to save $9.65 million by 2036 by switching to Windsor, I have to question the decision and its impact on the town’s financial position for the next 2 decades.

Then And Now

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Comparing Amherstburg To Other Municipalities: Accessibility Committee Applications

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How will council appoint applicants on January 23 pursuant to the AODA 2005 if they are unaware of applicants’ eligibility?

Section 29 (3) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 states: ‘A majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities.  2005, c. 11, s. 29 (3).’

Amherstburg advertised, ‘A majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities or caregivers of persons with disabilities.‘

Municipal Clerks from Essex County, Kingsville, Leamington, LaSalle and Tecumseh quickly responded to my request for copies of the application form for this article.

Note: emphasis has been added if application forms reference the legislation and eligibility lists have been summarized.

Amherstburg: Applications Form

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (Please check all boxes applicable to you)

  • resident or owner/tenant of land in the Town of Amherstburg
  • at least 18 years old
  • not prohibited from voting in a municipal election
  • understand and agree to adhere to the Council and Committee Code of Conduct.
    (Each Committee may have additional criteria for eligibility – Refer to Terms of Reference)
    Do you meet the qualifications for your chosen Committee/Board?

There was no link to the Terms of Reference.

Essex County Application Form

You are eligible to apply if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • person living with a disability
  • resident, owner or tenant of land in Essex County
  • Canadian citizen
  • At least 18 years old
  • Not prohibited by law from voting in a municipal election
  • Not an employee of the Corporation of the County of Essex
    Do you meet all of the eligibility criteria listed above? * Yes No

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, a majority of the members of the Accessibility Advisory Committee must be persons with disabilities.

Please select the sector which you would be representing on the Committee. I am a person with a disability. I am a professional from the disability stakeholder community.

Kingsville Application Form

If you are applying for the Accessibility Advisory Committee, please note that the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 requires that a majority of the committee members be persons with disabilities.

Do you identify yourself as having a disability? * Yes No Prefer not to identify

LaSalle Application Form

For more information about the Committee, please review the Terms of Reference here.

Have you read the Terms of Reference for this Committee? * Yes No

What are three areas related to increasing accessibility and inclusion that the Town of LaSalle Accessibility Advisory Committee should focus on during the 2022-2026 term? *

What is your understanding of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA)? How do you think the Town of LaSalle Accessibility Advisory Committee can support the Town in implementing the standards laid out in the AODA? *

Do you identify as a person with a disability or disabilities? *No Yes Prefer Not to Say

If you have identified yourself as a person with a disability or disabilities, and feel comfortable in sharing, can you please tell us about the barriers you may have experienced or are able to identify in our community?

Leamington Application Form

In accordance with the Committee’s membership requirements, the Municipality is searching for a citizen that is a person with a disability or disabilities. Do you wish to identify yourself as a person with a disability or disabilities?

I have read and understand the Terms of Reference for this Board or Committee. I understand that as a Board or Committee Member I will be required to attend mandatory training as organized and provided by the Municipality of Leamington Clerk. * Yes No

Tecumseh 

Our application follows the legislative requirements for advisory committees which can be found here.

Essex and Lakeshore did not respond at the time of writing, but information is posted to their websites:

Essex

View the proposed Terms of Reference and Learn More about the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

The Committee is made up of 1 member of Council and up to 12 members who are appointed by Council from the community. The Mayor may also attend meetings as an ex officio. The Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires that the majority of the Committee members be persons with disabilities.

Lakeshore 

Applications for vacant positions will be accepted until Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:00 PM.

Prospective applicants can read each committee/board’s terms of reference and apply online at Lakeshore.ca/CommitteeApp (under the “Vacancies” tab).

Related posts: Amherstburg’s vacancy ad and committee composition.

Copyright – this information is protected by Canada’s Copyright Act. Request written permission from the burg watch at gmail dot com.

No Vote For Prue As Per Agreement With Windsor

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Unfortunately, but true, no vote for Prue. The Agreement between the Town of Amherstburg and the City of Windsor, signed on October 12, 2018 stipulated:

The following shall determine the role of the Town with respect to the Board:

14. l (a) The City shall appoint the Mayor or his or her designate to the Board for the remaining term of Council until November 14, 2022, starting with the commencement of this Agreement on January 1, 2019.

(b) The City may consider the appointment of the Mayor or his or her designate for subsequent terms of Council provided that the City is providing police services to the Town.

(c) If at any time during the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, the Mayor or his or her designate is not appointed to the Board, the City agrees to allow the Mayor or his or her designate to become an advisor to the Board, as contemplated by the Act with the full ability to attend all meetings of the Board.

For further clarification regarding 14.1 (c), ‘all meetings of the Board’ shall include in-camera meetings and the advisor shall also receive all reports and correspondence as a full member of the Board would receive, subject to the advisor signing a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement.

CBC reports, Police board ‘missed opportunity’ for diversity with new appointment, says former councillor:

Another change is that Amherstburg’s mayor will no longer have a vote at the table. When Windsor began policing the Town of Amherstburg in 2019, previous mayor Aldo DiCarlo had a seat and a vote at the board.

The new mayor, Michael Prue, said he’s not happy he’ll only be on the board in an advisory role.

The Windsor Star also reports, A’burg mayor decries loss of voting power on Windsor police board:

Amherstburg will have a voice but not a vote at the Windsor Police Services Board this term, a change the town’s new mayor says may influence whether his council renews its contract with the city force.

Amherstburg Caremongering Comment Declined

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I guess the Caremongering group didn’t care for my comment. I tried to join the conversation about the re-opening of Jack Purdie park and its lack of accessible playground equipment.

In response to Councillor Molly Allaire’s comments, i tried to post:

There should be no reason for ‘baby steps.’ There’s the ODA 2001, AODA 2005, Human Rights Code, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. What is the explanation for NOT incorporating accessible design? Who approved the design? Who approved the tender? Anyone could file a human rights complaint against the town, like I had to resort to for the library. There is a long history of persons with disabilities being marginalized and discriminated against and it is unacceptable, given all the legislation, polices, practices, guidelines, etc. to encounter ‘it’s just a painfully slow process.’ The law is the law is the law.

Comparing Amherstburg To Other Municipalities: Candidates’ Questions

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Are candidate and third party advertiser questions to administration disclosed to the public? I received two different answers when I requested the same information from Amherstburg and Toronto.

Amherstburg:

I requested information, without revealing the source, to post to the burg watch blog.

Answer from CAO Critchley: Please file a Freedom of Information Request for this information. The form can be found at this link.

i’m not requesting any personal information; just the questions asked and answered.

Answer: This request is properly an MFIPPA request.

thank you but i respectfully disagree that a formal FOI request would be required.

Toronto:

I requested information to post to the burg watch blog.

Answer from City Clerk’s Office: Access to records held by the City of Toronto is regulated by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The public has a right to see most City records, with some exceptions.

The City of Toronto engages in routine disclosure to automatically make information available to the public when it is requested. When information is not available routinely, the public may submit a freedom of information request.

In regards to the “You Asked Us” page, the City has established a protocol for responding to requests for information from candidates and third party advertisers about City services and programs so that all candidates have equal access to information for the municipal election.

Candidate & Third Party Advertiser Questions to the City