t’s now been one week since I requested a comment for my blog regarding Emails to council read by Administration about the history of this: For how long has this practice been occurring? When and why was it initiated and by whom?
it’s now been four weeks since I requested a description of the undue hardship the town would endure if all the Open Air barriers were to be removed so everyone could equally participate in the community, on and in publicly owned public spaces, as i explained on Monday, March 13, 2023.
No answer has yet been provided in response to my April 6 email to Councillor Pouget and CAO Critchley requesting a comment, for the burg watch, about the history of this.
“For how long has this practice been occurring? When and why was it initiated and by whom?
When I questioned why four people being copied on one of my emails needed to have my personal information, Deputy CAO Osborne explained, ‘Emails from the public requesting responses to questions are shared with Administrative staff who are required to provide information for the responses. The Town’s privacy policy is posted on the website.’
One staff member responded so that still doesn’t explain why four people needed to be informed.
If staff are required to provide information for the responses, why haven’t I received answers to my questions, for example, to Anne Rota about her Open Air statements, or to council about what hardship the town would endure if Open Air barriers were removed?”
How accessible is a hotel that provides no accessible parking and stairs?
Last fall I askedwhat accessibility guidelines the town provides to developers? who ensures accessibility is included in the site plan review?
Deputy CAO Osborne wrote, in part, that Administration reviews site plans and drawings for compliance with legislative requirements.
While I awaited administration’s answer, I emailed Architectural Design Associates (ADA) about the proposed hotel: one of the pictures depicts stairs at the rear entrance to the building. how accessible will the stairs be? also, how many accessible units are proposed?
I followed up with ADA but still received no response.
Following the mandatory April 11, 2023 4:30 pm meeting, I have more questions about public safety and accessibility:
How will council be satisfied that undue traffic hazards would not arise?
Did Windsor Police Service provide a ‘fulsome’ report?
Was public safety regarding the rental of electric scooters considered?
Were municipalities like Toronto and Paris that banned electric scooters compared?
Were statistics regarding the number of injuries and deaths from electric scooters considered?
How will bike rentals be accessible if they are located downstairs?
How will people using mobility devices access the restaurant at the back of the building if stairs pose a barrier?
How would a person using a mobility device exit through the back stairs in an emergency?
How is the restaurant accessible if people with hidden disabilities have to travel to the front building entrance?
How will ‘fully accessible’ be interpreted, by whom and by what standards?
If the hotel has two accessible rooms, where will people with disabilities park?
Has walking distance from available parking for persons with various types of disabilities been considered?
If streets are not closed, and a person with a disability is dropped off in front of the hotel, will curb cuts be installed to enable access by persons with disabilities who use wheeled assistive devices?
Does the magnitude of the development warrant the provision of parking spaces for persons with disabilities?
Has public health and safety concerns, as mentioned in the Provincial Policy Statement, been addressed?
Has ‘improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and older persons by addressing land use barriers which restrict their full participation in society’ as mentioned in the Provincial Policy Statement been considered?
As mentioned in the Official Plan, in reviewing development applications, has serious consideration been given to the creation of a barrier free environment?
Also as mentioned in the Official Plan, has the town encouraged developers to provide barrier free developments?
Do Zoning By-law parking requirements for 1.25 spaces per unit of a hotel conflict with the Official Plan?
As the Amherstburg library branch celebrates its 110 year history, I reflect on what it took to ensure it was accessible to everyone.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission Investigator noted the town remained silent throughout my ten-year campaign to make the Carnegie library accessible. The Ontario Human Rights Commission highlighted the case in its Annual Report and the town credited others with my accomplishment.
In addition to ignoring my accessibility requests, the town disregarded government funding initiatives that prioritized accessibility. When I questioned the marina, instead of changing the priority project to the library, the town withdrew its funding application.
In 2001, I requested that council include accessibility in the tender for library repairs; instead, the town donated $710,000 for a replica of the HMS Detroit, for which taxpayers incurred a 9% tax hike over a two-year period.
Today, it’s disappointing to see the Amherstburg library promote sponsoring businesses that may have accessibility issues: River Bookshop, Richmond Popcorn, Caffeine and Co., Panneteria. Screenshot of Essex County Library page. I do not shop local if I encounter barriers.
It should be noted that heritage buildings can be made accessible so everyone could equally participate, but it requires a commitment to universal design, inclusivity and human rights.
I commented and also emailed the library board to let them know that the Essex County Library website may have accessibility issues.
The petition sets out seven reasons for the opposition of the Zoning By-law Amendment application regarding 256 Dalhousie Street and a proposed boutique hotel.
A Statutory Public Meeting to Consider a Zoning By-law Amendment will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 4:30 pm.The amendment, if approved at a future meeting of Council, will amend the existing site specific Commercial General Zone to permit 0 m rear yard setback where a 7.5 m rear yard setback is required.
The 2022 notice included in a council member’s email response is more specific.
2022: the information in this e-mail is confidential, privileged and is subject to copyright. It is intended solely for the addressee(s) named. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful and we ask that you notify us immediately by reply e-mail to the sender.
2023: the information in this e-mail is confidential, privileged and is subject to copyright and authorized solely for the addressee(s) named. The Town of Amherstburg is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.
Councillor Diane Pouget issued a letter of apology late last week, with it being made known at a public planning meeting earlier in the week that e-mails sent to the council e-mail group are also sent to the CAO and clerk. Pouget opposed the practice at the meeting, believing residents were sending the e-mails thinking they were for council only, and sent a letter of apology later in the week.
The letter reads: “Dear residents of the Town of Amherstburg, Please be advised, that on Monday, March 27th I became aware that emails, that you sent or might have sent to the elected members of Amherstburg Town Council via Council Email Group were being read and/or monitored by administration. Please know, that I was unaware of this action and I do not condone this practice.
I sincerely apologize and I give you my word, that I will do everything in my power to change this situation. Respectfully submitted, Diane Pouget”
Although the document lacks some specific information that other municipalities include, like links to the actual declaration forms and agenda items, the spreadsheet has been updated and is available to view and download at the town’s website.
the burg watch 