Author Archives: theburgwatch

About theburgwatch

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

Two Different Mayors, Same Mayor’s Message

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This original post is protected by copyright owner, Linda Saxon, the burg watch, and is not to be reproduced without permission.

Mayor Wayne Hurst’s Message in Amherstburg’s Accessibility Plan from January 2013.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo’s Message in Amherstburg’s Accessibility Plan from 2017 but the date remained January 2013 and the mayor’s message was unchanged.

Municipal Election Stats 2018

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The Association Municipalities Ontario (AMO) reported on the 2018 statistics:

  • The vast majority of councils are composed of five (5) members including the head of council.
  • representation of at large 59%, ward system 32%
  • incumbency rate 68% new
  • gender 73% male
  • voting method: 42.3% internet (only or optional) 26.6% paper only
  • voter turnout, 43% in 2014.

Amherstburg Chooses In Person Voting 2022

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Zander Broekel, am800, reports that AMHERSTBURG COUNCIL STICKING WITH IN-PERSON VOTING FOR 2022 MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, other municipalities have opted for contact free methods like telephone, internet or mail-in voting, but mayor Aldo DiCarlo says residents have made it clear they prefer to cast their ballot in-person.

“The obvious considerations are mail-in and internet voting as well, but it’s not as secure as people coming in and submitting a ballot right there,” he continued. “For municipalities who have used the internet, there’s been delays in vote counting and questions about the validity of the votes cast.”

Incomplete Committee Minutes Contrary to Accountability and Transparency

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This original post is protected by copyright owner, Linda Saxon, the burg watch, and is not to be reproduced without permission.

Blank portions of Committee Minutes approved by council include:

AMHERSTBURG ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: May 20, 2021, June 17, 2021, August 19, 2021, October 21, 2021

AMHERSTBURG ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: June 9, 2021, September 21, 2021

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: October 7, 2021

HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING: May 13, 2020, June 24, 2021, August 12, 2021, September 2, 2021

INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAM ADVISORY STEERING COMMITTEE: May 27, 2021, June 23, 2021, July 28, 2021, September 22, 2021, October 27, 2021

PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: May 12, 2021, August 18, 2021, September 8, 2021

SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES: May 11, 2021, August 10, 2021

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY POLICY Approved November 25, 2019:

Accountability, transparency and openness are standards of good municipal governance that enhance public trust and confidence. Through these measures, the Town will ensure, to the best of its ability, that all activities and services are delivered using a process that is open, accessible and responsible to its stakeholders. In addition, wherever possible, the Town will engage its stakeholders throughout its transparent decision making process.

Committee MINUTES 2021 are posted at an external site.

A Third Perspective – TVO Episode

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This original post is protected by copyright owner, Linda Saxon, the burg watch, and is not to be reproduced without permission.

My opinion in response to the TVO episode featuring Richard Peddie and Lauri Brouyette, introduced as CO-CHAIRS of Thrive Amherstburg, is a third perspective.

It wasn’t clear if they were representing the group or speaking as independent investors. In response to Ashleigh Weeden’s comments, Ms. Brouyette said ‘We actually did bring in the community with us. We formed a group that we call Thrive and it looks at housing, it looks at healthy living, and everything that we want to be able to offer our community as a large group as a whole. Not just Richard and I. That’s not even close.’

An individual annual membership to join Thrive is $50.00. The THRIVE Board of Directors selected 9 placemaking initiatives and submitted White Papers to town council, one of which was Open Air Amherstburg, a contentious event that creates barriers to persons with disabilities when hair salons, banks, or the post office can’t be accessed due to street closures and almost 50% of the downtown businesses objected to.

I agree with Ms. Weeden: who gets to have a say is really important. Despite the input from persons with disabilities regarding the lack of on-street parking and public consultation of it, and the pleas of some retail establishments, Amherstburg town council will go ahead with Open Air again in 2022.

Richard Peddie’s and Lauri Brouyette’s Restorations On TVO

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Richard Peddie and Lauri Brouyette, introduced as CO-CHAIRS of Thrive Amherstburg, appeared on the Restoring Rural Ontario TVO episode that aired December 8, 2021.

After Peddie and Brouyette promoted their restoration projects and shared the architectural history, Ashley Weeden, a PhD candidate in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph joined the panel, “I simply don’t believe in benevolent capitalists. It just doesn’t exist.” She shared her observations on outside wealth, colonialism and the focus on tourism and its largely cyclical benefits.

Peddie seemed peeved and countered her criticism with, “First of all, we’re not trying to look European” and “We’re also helping the town council think about what this town should do and reach out to be a better place to live for everyone.”

Brouyette’s answer, in part, was, “We formed a group that we call Thrive and it looks at housing, it looks at healthy living, and everything we want to be able to offer our community as a large group as a whole, not just Richard and I; that’s not even close.”

Related: Peddie cash: What happens when a philanthropist tries to build ‘the best small town in Ontario’