Category Archives: Accountability

When Will Town Hall Accessibility Be A Priority?

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Council will consider South Fire Station – Consolidated Build verses Renovation Options with Fire Chief Montone’s report and recommendations, including one upside down Attachment 4.

Attachment 5 points out the obvious about the town hall:

‘The building is non AODA compliant for, it is not possible to to convert this building to make accessible due to the general construction of the building. This building was designed as a multilevel building with provision for accessibility in mind and the cost to convert the town hall to AODA compliant is $291,117.78.’

Could that cost have been covered if it had been a priority?

Dog Park = $165,000.

Libro Trail Over expenditure = $170,000

Total spent on two projects = $335,000.

Watch tonight’s council meeting live.

Agenda Preview April 24 Council Meeting

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I don’t usually post meeting previews because the full agendas are available on the town’s site and anyone can subscribe to receive them via email by filling in the online form. But there are a few hot topics worth mentioning.

There are still links from minutes to ‘This item has no attachments.’

Minutes to be approved: one Regular Meeting on December 12, 2022 and eight in-camera meetings:
December 12
January 23
February 8
February 13
February 22 – could not find calendar listing
March 27
April 11 – no calendar listing; moved during the meeting
April 17 and:
March 8 Co-An Park
April 12 Co-An Park

There are a few reports and recommendations on:

Updated Comments Policy

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Anyone wishing to leave comments on the burg watch blog are now being asked to read this blog’s comments policy prior to commenting (below). While comments are welcome, they are moderated and will not be deleted or censored unless they have content that:

  • contains personal attacks or content that could be deemed offensive
  • promotes hate of any kind
  • uses profanity
  • is off topic
  • is blatantly spam

Emails To Council Read By Administration – Still No Answer

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It’s now been two weeks since I asked for comments so I sent a new email to Mayor Prue, who is the town’s official spokesperson.

For the burg watch, 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?

Also, has Windsor Police Service provided the answers to questions to WPS Chief Bellaire from members of council when it approved the contract renewal?

Windsor Police Requires Freedom of Information Request

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As mentioned in the post, Windsor Police Comments for 256 Dalhousie, I requested a copy of the Windsor Police report by Barry Horrobin that formed the basis for his comments attached to the meeting agenda.

Not surprisingly, Windsor Police FOI Coordinator emailed, ‘You must make an access request for a copy of the report’ and she attached a request form and instructions. She further stated if mailing my complete application please ensure to enclose a copy of my identification and the applicable fee.

Of course I wrote back that we already had an Appeal (Windsor Police Dispatch Proposal) and I am NOT REQUIRED to provide identification when requesting general records pursuant to the MFIPPA, so none will be attached to my written request. I would’ve thought Windsor Police would have updated its application accordingly. But I also thought with the new Chief’s pledge for increased transparency, that formal FOI requests would no longer be required.

Read the CBC article, Jason Bellaire is Windsor, Ont.’s new police chief and wants ‘culture change,’ more transparency; he said he plans to implement culture changes and create a more transparent service that works closely with the community. 

Short Term Rental Meeting Post Review

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It would be so much more enjoyable, and less time consuming, if council meetings were conducted with more decorum – less speeches, personal anecdotes and repetitive comments and my pet peeve – staff appreciation. I understand the importance of council/staff relations, but offering kudos and thanking staff for a report? applauding staff for reading comments into the record?

As recently as the March 14 post, Open Air Post Review To Council, copied to council, I offered kudos to Councillor Pouget for consistently acknowledging the town’s legal obligation to comply with provincial legislation, specifically, the AODA and Human Rights Code.

At the April 17 meeting, Short Term Rentals, Councillor Pouget raised a concern regarding the accessibility issues: According to the provincial government guidelines do mention accessibility legislation, including the Human Rights Code for short term rentals. Pouget asked Mr. Tetler has that been taken into consideration?

Mr. Tetler said these properties would need to be brought into compliance with the Fire Code and the Ontario Building Code so he couldn’t speak to what each property would have at this time.

Councillor Pouget said she was basically referring to the Accessibility Act, according to the provincial government,

CAO Crtichley explained the Building Code has specifications for what has to be in properties to comply with AODA so these homes will need to be in compliance with the Building Code.

As I mentioned on March 13, the Human Rights Code has primacy over all other Ontario legislation.

I repeat today, kudos to Councillor Pouget for consistently acknowledging the town’s legal obligation to comply with provincial legislation, specifically, the AODA and Human Rights Code.

On March 14, Deputy Mayor Gibb spoke about his in-laws, as he did yesterday, in reference to where family members live, in Blue Mountain, and when they come to Amherstburg to visit his in laws.

As council’s rep on the Accessibility Advisory committee, Councillor McArthur should have advocated for the removal of barriers.

Councillor McArthur offered kudos to the bylaw department while Councillor Crain wanted to thank staff for their work on this. A staff member listed about twelve municipalities that were looked at. Shouldn’t all of the research been included in a ‘fulsome’ report so council was more informed?

Councillor Allaire shared her personal experience of what she prefers as a renter and was in favour of Option C.

I counted four members of council who encouraged people to continue contacting authorities to report disturbances.

Revised Agenda Short Term Rentals April 17

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There are now six delegations for the 5:00 pm meeting listed on the revised agenda regarding the Administration Report, Appendix “B” OWNER OCCUPIED and Appendix “C” Not Owner Occupied. The pages are not numbered.

The provincial guide for municipalities that are considering regulating home-sharing in their communities does mention accessibility and provincial legislation.