A reader mentioned the Pepper Cat restaurant so I took a short tour of some of the downtown eateries; more photos to follow.
These are stairs to Chicano’s – the food on the website menu looks amazing but I’d have trouble entering.
Category Archives: Accountability
Concurrent Committee Members
Amherstburg’s Boards and Committees Appointment Policy, enacted September 26, 2011, could use an update but also adherence to the policy.
“PURPOSE OF POLICY
The purpose of the Town of Amherstburg Boards and Committees Appointment Policy is to ensure a fair and equitable appointment process to Town Boards and Committees where:
- The most qualified applicants are appointed as Members; and
- Applicants are representative of Amherstburg’s diverse community with a broad wealth of experience and skills.”
Section 3.4. states Members will not be appointed to more than two (2) Boards or Committees in a Term of Council.
Are Committees representative of a diverse community if concurrent members are appointed and rules are waived?
Chris Drew:
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Dangerous Dog Appeal
- Property Standards
- Livestock Evaluator 2015
- Fence Viewer 2015
Tony Pietrangelo:
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Fence Viewer
- Seniors Advisory
Shirley Curson-Prue: Councillor Prue removed himself from discussion and voting due to his declared conflict of interest re her appointment to the Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Heritage
- Parks and Recreation
Murray Sellars:
- Co-An Park
- Fene Viewer
- Livestock Evaluator
Anthony Campigotto:
- Committee of Adjustment
- Drainage
- Property Standards
Jennie Lajoie:
- Co-An Park
- Heritage
Christine Easterbrook:
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Inclusive Community Program Advisory Steering Committee
Kathy DiBartolomeo:
- Seniors
- Inclusive Community Program Advisory Steering Committee
Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers Part Three – Maps
Amherstburg is not Bogota.
Populations:
Amherstburg 21,936
Bogota 11, 167,000
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 post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.
Visit Amherstburg website includes two links to the same map:
“To assist you we have this map to help you best decide where to park your vehicle. You’ll see we have added additional accessible parking spots at the Open Air thresholds as well as additional bike racks to help encourage active transportation.
Click here to see additional bicycle, vehicle and accessible parking areas.”
The first map:
The second map:
Who decided it was a good idea to have two links to one map on the same page?
Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers To Inclusion Part Two
Amherstburg is not Bogota.
This is a continuation of photos showing the barriers to Amherstburg’s downtown due to its ‘Open Air’ event where open streets are closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends from May to September.
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 post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.
Further Details About Ombudsman Report July 2022
The Ombudsman found that the Town did not contravene the Act’s open meeting requirements in closing these meetings to the public. However, the Town contravened section 239(4)(a) of the Act on September 13 and November 16, 2021 by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera. The Town also contravened the requirements of section 239(7) of the Act by failing to keep a record of what occurred in camera on November 8 and November 16, 2021.
Read the full report here.
Then-Clerk Valerie Critchley’s response to concerns about in camera minutes were posted on March 4, 2022 in this post: Lack of In-camera Information = Lack of Transparency?
Also read:
Posted on June 29, 2018 Ombudsman: Council And Joint Police Advisory Committee Wrong To Discuss RFP In Camera
Posted on January 6, 2012 Ombudsman Posts ‘Behind Closed Doors’ Report
Town To Hire Financial Services Clerk
The town is filling a vacancy and applicants have until August 2 to apply.
The town’s website notes, “Reporting to either the Supervisor of Revenue or the Supervisor of Accounting, the Financial Services Clerk follows established methods for provision of services to Town departments. Responsibilities may include Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Utility Billing, Property Taxes and Payroll support functions for all departments under the auspices of the Town of Amherstburg.”
Full details on this page.
Breaking News Ombudsman Report
A Report into some Town of Amherstburg meetings can be read in full here.
I’ve Been Blocked
The River Bookshop stairs blocked me from the art windsor essex Group of Seven exhibit.
I raised awareness about the Barrier to Accessibility.
Bookshop Co-owner Richard Peddie blocked me on twitter.
Twenty stairs up to second level at River Bookshop
KPMG Makes Similar Recommendation
One of KPMG’s recommendations is similar to mine from months ago:
KPMG:
- The Town could consider undertaking an update of the Procurement Policy to ensure information in the Policy is sufficient and relevant to current operations at the Town.
MINE: The town’s Procurement Policy should be updated to reflect provincial legislation.
To view the full KPMG report, click on this link from the agenda.
Reader letter: Artwork should have been on display at accessible site
As published in the Windsor Star July 23, 2022.
Re: Amherstburg gets a closer look at Group of Seven artwork, by Dave Battagello, July 2
Not everyone will get a closer look.
The exhibition was being hosted in a downtown bookstore owned by Richard Peddie.
Victoria Little, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Art Windsor-Essex, stated recently, “AWE regrets hosting this exhibition in a space that is not accessible in Amherstburg.”
In her letter, Ms. Little explained: “AWE also undertakes partnerships when our overarching goals for a program align with those of community visionaries, such as Richard Peddie.”
But if the goal was to bring this exhibit to Amherstburg, AWE could have selected accessible locations like the downtown Gibson Gallery or the Libro Centre.
The livability of communities cannot be improved if persons with disabilities continue to experience discrimination because of attitudinal and physical barriers.
AWE needs to adopt an accessibility policy and align its goals with legislation that ensures every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities without discrimination.
Ms. Little asked for my “patience and understanding that the organization operates within the broader systems of obligations that may conflict with our overarching accessible vision.”
I have been more than patient as I have advocated for improved accessibility for over 30 years. There’s the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, the Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with the goal of a fully accessible province in 2025.
Yet, a public art organization decided it was okay to exclude persons with disabilities with this recent exhibition. Linda Saxon, Amherstburg
the burg watch 