Author Archives: theburgwatch

About theburgwatch

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

A Look Back – Candidate Aldo DiCarlo on OPP Costing

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From a reader in 2014:

Question 6. If elected, will you commit to council obtaining an OPP costing and if appointed to the police services board, will you commit to removing the OPP takeover clause in the police contract? If running for re- election, why did you not consider doing the above?

2014 then-candidate Aldo DiCarlo

With my labour background, and expertise in contract negotiations, this question is not difficult. For the record, I have negotiated 4 major contracts and facilitate workshops, related to bargaining preparation and successfully negotiating contracts. That said, I spoke with the major stakeholders related to this issue. The information I received was both confusing and frustrating. The current board has had 4 years, at least related to this contract, to request and obtain a costing to switch to OPP services. To my knowledge, no such costing has been requested to this date. Further, such costing has been free of charge to the municipality, but may actually require costs in the future. As a tax paying citizen, this particular point downright infuriates me. Why would the board not acquire something free that could help the Town decide what’s in their best interests. They might tell you that doing so could cause morale problems. However, I now know that they never bothered to even ask the Police Association, so this is just a speculative position. Now the final logic. For those who look at the current demographics of our current Police Force, they’ll notice that the average age is on the young side. Since there is a grandfather date in the contract, this clause wouldn’t apply to most of them. If you see where I’m going, now is the time to successfully remove the takeover clause. I’m sure there would be a minimal cost compared to the cost of implementing the clause, but that’s why it’s called negotiations. There has to be give and take. I can’t honestly say which I’d prefer, municipal or provincial policing. What I can say, what I know, is that the current board didn’t do their due diligence in acquiring the information for us to make an educated decision on what would be best for the town…information that would have been ‘free’. I would definitely acquire this information, if given the chance, and then work with the appropriate parties to achieve what’s best for the Town, or more importantly, what the Town feels is best for them.

Amherstburg Vote 2022

Commentary on Councillor Simone’s Notice of Motion On Town’s Name

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Commentary by Linda Saxon RE Amherstburg Councillor Simone’s Notice of Motion To Redefine Town Name.

As published in the River Town Times:

The proposal is problematic for a couple of reasons.

Councillor Simone references, without citation, the etymological root of Amherst is “a place amongst the woods.”

Simone states the namesake’s ‘controversial nature’ and ‘Amherst’s legacy is controversial.’ Translated from Latin, controversy means disputed which downplays Amherst’s correspondence indicating a genocidal intent.

Does council favour actions that require very little effort and no cost but create the illusion of an ‘inclusive community?’ Two recent examples of wishes granted with little, or no cost come to mind.

One day after a resident tweeted in favour of extending the River Lights, and offered financial aid, Mayor Aldo DiCarlo made the lone decision to extend the lights display.

Nine months after the proposal for a rainbow crosswalk, with financial support, Councillor Donald McArthur said he was sorry it took so long.

If the town creates barriers to persons with disabilities, excludes persons with disabilities from decision-making processes, and delays compliance, can it claim 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?”

Likewise, and paradoxically, the town reads a land acknowledgement at every meeting, which cost nothing, but if it creates an appearance of inclusivity is that as far as it will act? Substituting a new definition is no different than the town of Russell replacing the namesake with a new “Russell.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called upon municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

Council should do its homework before it decides. I refer to Article 19: States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.

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

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The Windsor Star reports: Instead of referencing Amherst, Simone said she hopes council will endorse a new meaning — “place amongst the woods” based on the etymological Old English roots of “Amherst” — which Simone says indicates “a place or settlement amounts the woods” and “burg” which denotes a “walled or defensive settlement.”

Councillor Patricia Simone’s Full Notice of Motion to Town of Amherstburg Council: Re Town of Amherstburg Name.

A Look Back – Candidate Aldo DiCarlo on Heritage District

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From a reader of the burg watch 2014:

Question 5. Towns need to differentiate themselves in order to compete for potential residents and businesses to relocate to their locale. Studies show that tourists who visit areas for History Tourism spend twice as much as an average tourist. Heritage Districts have popped up all over the country bringing much needed jobs and tourists. The current town council has stalled the implementation of a ready to go Heritage District in Town. Will you work with Town Administration and Heritage Committee to bring a much needed Heritage District to Amherstburg.

2014 then-candidate Aldo DiCarlo

I have always felt that Amherstburg’s heritage has been understated. I would look forward to working with the Administration and Heritage Committee. My research has shown me that most of the problems with heritage buildings are related to excessive repair costs due to neglect and lack of planning. The first thing that I think should be done is to designate which buildings are heritage, their current conditions and expected costs of maintenance and/or repair. Something like a 10 year plan should be established to address the known issues. For areas that require extensive repair, hard decisions will have to be made. Ideally, repairing buildings and then setting out a long term maintenance schedule should keep the Heritage District a viable option for the Town. All of this, of course, is just my ideas and I would definitely need ideas and input from those who understand the Heritage District better than I. Solutions that work are generally developed from multiple ideas, not just one. The current approach seems to be ineffective, otherwise, I don’t believe this question would be here.

Amherstburg Vote 2022

A Look Back – Candidate Aldo DiCarlo on Agenda Preparation

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From a reader in 2014:

Question 4.  Council members currently receive their notes on the Friday before the council meeting, just days before to digest a large amount of information. In other municipalities council receives much more time to digest and are actually briefed on the several pages of documents they are responsible to read. Is it any wonder that there were several disagreements on partially understood information? How will you change the process at Town Hall to bring them in alignment with other municipalities? How will you design the process so it is less of a speed read and more of a conversation based on information that is well understood?

2014 then-candidate Aldo DiCarlo

This is a pretty easy question to answer, as it was also an issue with the members of the University Of Windsor Board Of Governors when I was a member. Everyone digests and understands at different rates and levels. I don’t believe that there is any concrete timeframe that applies to everyone. The next council should discuss and agree on what a ‘reasonable’ amount of time is. Then, they should stick to it. If information is not available within the prescribed time, post pone the meeting. I know there are those who might argue the inconvenience to those who have planned for the date posted, but then I ask, “Would you rather have a meeting with councillors who aren’t prepared to properly address issues now, or would you rather they deal with the issues when they fully understand the agenda, and have had time for proper consultation with any citizens necessary?” As a final thought, a mayor and council who are abreast of issues, and stay informed with ongoing issues, won’t likely be presented with much they don’t already understand. This is not to say that I, nor anyone else, can know everything or anything all of the time, but part of the job of council is know their municipality’s issues, citizens, concerns and needs. No one person can know the whole town, but if everyone on council knows something, collectively they can know quite a lot. This would include what they don’t know, and need to find out. I’m not someone who is afraid, or opposed, to admit when they need more information.

Amherstburg Vote 2022

Amherstburg’s Sunshine List 2021

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Paul Acton Deputy Fire Chief                                                   $120,288.47

Angelo Avolio Chief Building Official                                         $126,980.75

Sabrina Bilyk Human Resources,                                             $100,428.54
Health and Safety Coordinator

Andrew Challans District Chief                                                $154,285.45

Eric Chamberlain Manager, Roads and Fleet                           $121,830.47

Richard Daly Manager, Recreation Services                            $103,780.78

Jason Durocher District Chief                                                  $152,190.42

Frank Garardo Manager, Planning Services                             $111,265.79

Antonietta Giofu                                                                       $153,945.05
Director, Engineering and Infrastructure Services

Todd Hewitt Manager, Engineering                                           $123,490.04

Cheryl Horrobin Director, Corporate Services                            $122,488.26

Elke Leblanc Supervisor, Revenue                                             $100,284.23

Jordan Long Manager, Information Technology                          $102,198.63

Giovanni Miceli Chief Administrative Officer                                $176,931.75

Robert Montone Fire Chief                                                          $154,644.10

Michelle Rose Manager, Human Resources                                $101,863.21

Anne Rota Manager, Tourism and Culture                                    $101,831.26

Justin Rousseau Treasurer                                                           $124,281.00

Robert Unis Deputy Chief Building Official                                    $110,986.66

Randy Wismer District Chief                                                         $149,018.18

Richard Wismer District Chief                                                        $148,302.08

Atkins Andrew Executive Director                                                  $101,715.16

Alyssa Thrasher Nurse Practitioner                                                $122,252.63

Hurry Or You’ll Miss The Survey Deadline

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The problem with the town surveys, and there are so many, is who is listening – Administration. Are the results always delivered to council, the decision-makers?

Following months of meetings, a survey is posted but hurry or you’ll miss the deadline. What’s One More Survey? detailed the short time frame; now you have until March 20 to complete the Inclusive Community Plan survey.

Are there better methods of civic engagement, especially in a small town? Contact your Council.

Rules Were Meant To Be Unfair?

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Was anyone minding the clock? I didn’t hear any reminders about the time limit as I have in the past for some delegates. I also didn’t hear the Mayor use the gavel.

The Amherstburg Soccer Club’s delegation at council’s March 14, 2022 meeting was 18 minutes, followed by a 48 minute question and answer session with members of council and staff for a total of 66 minutes.

First the delegation was late, but Mayor DiCarlo stated they could move on to the next item and then come back to them.

According to the town’s website, delegates are governed by Amherstburg Council’s Procedural By-law 2014-91, specifically:

  • Section 5.5 – Council will allow a maximum of five minutes per delegation per regular Council meeting. No more than four delegations will be heard per item of discussion by Council. The five minute timeline will be strictly enforced. The Clerk shall set a timer at the commencement of the delegation’s presentation. The Mayor/Chair at the conclusion of the five minutes shall inform the delegation that the time limit has been exceeded and thank the delegation for the presentation. Only upon a verbal motion to extend the five minute limit adopted by a majority of members shall the five minute limit be extended.

A Look Back – Candidate Aldo DiCarlo on Full Audit

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From a reader in 2014:

Question 3. There is no shortage of stories of lottery winners who go broke within 5 years of their big win. One reason they go broke is because they have not learned money management skills. With only a partial audit to learn from Amherstburg Town Hall and Administration are risking a repeat of their past mistakes. There has been a herculanian effort to avoid a full audit, how can we learn what really went wrong without a full audit? Do you support a full independent audit of the town’s finances over the past 5 years?

2014 then-candidate Aldo DiCarlo

This is a difficult question to answer with the understanding that the cost would not be cheap. On one hand, I agree wholeheartedly that a full audit should have been approved and done by the past council, since they were the elected representatives at the time, and they should be held accountable for whatever may have come from a full audit. Some reports and investigations have been done that elude to the lack of understanding of the past councillors when it comes to finances and budgets. It is not fair to say all councillors, but some, and I’m sure everyone has some in mind. What seems to be coming to light is that there really is no smoking gun, to coin a phrase. The trouble the town is in can only be explained by what appears to be a complete lack of understanding of what was going on, who was doing what, what they were supposed to be doing and what they were supposed to know. Outside of my bid for the mayor’s seat, as a tax paying citizen, I can’t believe that we had paid, and unpaid, people in town hall with so little understanding of what was going on. I believe this can begin to be rectified with a new council. If new councillors are elected who actually understand finances, budgeting and oversight, I’m not sure that we need to spend any more money on the past. The town still has plenty of issues to address, issues that will require money to fix, and that money would be better served going towards those issues. With no disrespect to all of the previous councillors, I don’t understand why it is being proposed that no one could have known what to ask or do. There were those who did, yet they were silenced. If a mayor and councillors are elected that were part of those who voted in favour of issues without the proper understanding, or at least accepting that they weren’t educated with the issue enough to proceed without more information, then I’d be demanding a full audit so they can see what went wrong more clearly. If a new council is elected with a proper balance of backgrounds, backgrounds related to the Town’s issues, I believe they can move us forward without having to spend money, as they would already understand most of what went wrong in the past.

Amherstburg Vote 2022