Author Archives: theburgwatch

About theburgwatch

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

Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers To Inclusion

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Sunday, May 29, 2022 – the start of National AccessAbility Week; inclusive from the start is this year’s theme and this photo is my contribution to raising awareness of the need for inclusion in our community.

barriers that restrict access to Downtown Amherstburg during its open air event on weekends

Amherstburg’s Open Air event where, for the third year, barriers prevent the almost 5,000 persons with disabilities from equally participating in their community: barriers to the downtown core, including the post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.

Request Held In Abeyance, Advises Clerk

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Valerie Critchley, town clerk, has advised, “as Councillor Simone has not yet brought back her motion, your correspondence has been held in abeyance.”

In a May 12 email to Councillor Simone, I stated, “Since your notice of motion was ‘pulled’ from the agenda, without a motion detailing when it would return, my submission was put on hold, which delayed consideration of any actions to address truth and reconciliation. my requests should not be dependent on your decision to follow up/not follow up on your notice of motion.

i hereby request that my original submission be placed back on council’s agenda for consideration. if administration decides not to do so, then i request that you or any other member of council introduce my submission at the next council meeting just as has been done for any taxpayer concern.”

How long will Councillor Simone take to decide to take action/not take action?

Mayor DiCarlo Responds for Councillor Simone

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Spoiler alert: Mayor DiCarlo didn’t answer the questions put to Councillor Simone 10 weeks ago.

Mayor DiCarlo emailed:

“Thank you for your email. I am assisting Councillor Simone with her notice of motion, and have been asked to provide responses to any inquires that come forward.

I can advise that consultations continue to take place with various indigenous peoples.  Once we have had the appropriate consultations with them, including their concerns and expectations to move forward, a revised notice of motion may be brought forward to council.

I am not sure what you mean by “as has been done for any taxpayer concern”.  I can confirm from experience that not every taxpayer concern is moved forward by a council member in a public meeting.  Many are addressed, as appropriate, outside of a council meeting.  Since all members of council have received this correspondence, they can certainly bring your requests forward under unfinished or new business.

As your requests would affect the indigenous peoples of our community, and/or our region, I think it would be more appropriate to raise your suggestions with indigenous peoples, before adopting them as a municipality.  If you have had discussions with local indigenous peoples regarding your requests, I would appreciate that information so that I can follow up, and ensure the town can move forward with their guidance.”

Related:

Now Eight Weeks Awaiting Answers On Amherst Namesake From Councillor Simone

Amherstburg Councillor Simone’s Notice of Motion to Redefine Town Name

Now Eight Weeks Awaiting Answers On Amherst Namesake From Councillor Simone

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Follow up emails have been sent to Councillor Simone, who has still not answered questions from March 16 as she said she would.

Following several media interviews about Amherstburg Councillor Simone’s Notice of Motion To Redefine Town Name, I sent questions on March 16, 2022, a phone message was left and another email was sent asking if there was a good time to call.

As of March 28, she “will review the questions and respond as soon as possible.”

Questions:

what prompted you to bring forward the notice of motion?

why is changing the town’s name “not feasible?” Specifically?

how is it possible that “Amherstburg is an inclusive community that recognizes the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all persons to live in a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the worth of each person, allowing them to contribute fully to the development and well-being of the community” if the town creates barriers to persons with disabilities? excludes persons with disabilities from decision-making?

did you consult any Indigenous people about your intention to denounce the town’s namesake?

did you consult any legislation about your intention to denounce the town’s namesake?

did you consider your terminology might be perceived to be downplayed?

why did you choose ‘controversial nature of this individual’ and ‘Amherst’s legacy is controversial’ when what actually occurred was atrocities and crime against humanity?

Feedback Wanted for the County’s 2023-2027 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

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Unlike Amherstburg, Essex County is allowing plenty of time for feedback – almost 7 weeks!  You have until June 30. Not days like Amherstburg and then it closed early.

The county’s administrative team and the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee will review the feedback received during the preparation of the 2023-2027 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, which will then be presented to county council for final approval.

The Town of Amherstburg approved a DRAFT plan. Shameful.

 

Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee Could Use Tips

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I watched today’s rescheduled Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.

Committee members still stray off topic, but did finally have a discussion regarding keeping track of money allocated to projects and decisions regarding the same. For quite some time I have wondered why resolutions were not passed and recorded in the minutes for reference. In the future, an unfinished list of sorts will be used. Why it took so long I have no idea, especially when a few members sit on other town committees.

I didn’t hear the committee members deal with an AODA Alliance tips for committee members that I forwarded through town clerk Valerie Critchley. I also sent it to members of council so they would be better informed; see below.

“This Update gives members of AACs and SEACs practical tips on how to give as strong a voice as possible to disability issues. We identify seven areas of concern and then provide a fuller explanation for each point below. In summary, here is what all members of AACs and SEACs should know:

1. AACs and SEACs should set their own meeting agendas! Don’t let city staff or school board staff set their advisory committee’s agenda or tell them what topics are “in order.”

2. Members of AACs and SEACs must remain free to also be disability advocates in private and public.

 3. Inaccessible virtual meeting platforms and application forms are not allowed.

 4. Public deputations to an advisory committee should not be artificially limited to five minutes.

 5. Municipal and school board bylaws cannot hog-tie the work of an AAC or SEAC.

 6. Members of the public are free to talk to or exchange emails with advisory committee members about accessibility issues, including those on the advisory committee’s agenda. (emphasized for council’s attention).

 7. AACs and SEACs have an absolute right to have their recommendations and advice shared directly with all the city council or school board trustees whom they are appointed to advise, and not just to a sub-committee.

Please share this Update with members of the AAC and SEAC in your community. Urge your member of city council and school board trustee to read this and to send it to all members of their AAC or SEAC.”

A Look Back – Candidate Aldo DiCarlo on Time Commitment

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From a reader in 2014:

Question For Mayoral Candidates: For our Mayoral candidates who have full time employment: How will you be able to put in the 40 or more hours required each week as Mayor of Amherstburg? Will you be at Town Hall every day? Will you get a leave-of-absence from your current employer?

2014 then-candidate Aldo DiCarlo

I have checked into this to see if I could find a reference for the question. I could not find any job description for the mayor of Amherstburg or any reference to a 40 hour work week. The job for mayor of Amherstburg is still listed as a part time job, as it is in all the other municipalities in Essex County, except for Windsor. I do not believe that this election is about a debate for a full time or part time mayor’s position. This election is about deciding who the most qualified individual is for mayor, not the one with the most availability. I investigated further, by speaking with several past CAO’s, council members and staff from the Town, and they all agreed that if the job of mayor is done by a competent individual with skills in delegating, personnel and finance, there should be no need to have a full time mayor. This is a good thing since we can’t really afford one right now, nor can I afford to leave my full time employment and support my family. It would be unfortunate for Amherstburg if we started to limit the candidates for mayor to retirees or people of wealth. I do not believe that the mayor should be doing everything. The work should be distributed amongst the councillors, the deputy mayor, and administration. This develops cooperation, transparency, accountability and a positive work environment, regardless of how much time the mayor has to dedicate to the job. That said, I have a full time job with flexibility and I intend to put in whatever amount of hours is necessary to get Amherstburg back into a positive position. Whether that time is in Town Hall, in my home or in someone else’s home, I can’t say right now. I will say that I can do it more efficiently and more productively than it was done, at least by those on council in the past 4 years.

Amherstburg Vote 2022