Category Archives: Accountability

Peddie’s Pop Up – am800 Interview

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Dan Macdonald, am800, interviewed Richard Peddie, River Bookshop owner and Jennifer Matotek, Executive Director Art Windsor Essex (AWE), formerly Art Gallery Windsor about the Group of Seven Pop Up Exhibit. Read the article or listen to the interview.

Peddie mentions the event is free and you just walk upstairs because the event is on the second floor, called a hole in the wall. He explains that it’s an 1887 building and they weren’t accessible in those days.

Yes, but it’s 2022.

Meanwhile, Matotek is ‘looping in some’ team members and asking if they can work on some language for the show around access, ‘so we can be transparent with the public about the lack of access for this space.’

Being transparent about a lack of access is not the same as equal access.

Art Windsor Essex Confirms Exhibit Not Accessible Space

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Jennifer Matotek, Executive Director Art Windsor Essex (AWE) acknowledges, ‘Unfortunately, the Hole in the Wall venue which houses ‘Group of Seven: Not Formed in a Day’ is not an accessible space.’

The River Bookshop hosts the July 1 to 10 art event at its Hole in the Wall on the second floor. The AWE acknowledges on its website that This project and events are made possible with generous support from Richard and Colleen Peddie.

I inquired whether AWE had an accessibility policy. Matotek advised, ‘We are in the process of developing an accessibility plan and policy. This will be published on a dedicated ‘access’ page on our new website, which launches in Fall 2022.’

One more barrier in the Town of Amherstburg.

Now Three Months Awaiting Answers From Councillor Simone

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Councillor Simone promised ‘to be available to answer any questions you may have’ during her 2018 campaign to become a councillor, repeated in A Look Back – Candidate Patricia Simone.

Simone has still not answered questions from March 16; on March 28, she said she would review the questions and respond as soon as possible about Simone’s Notice of Motion To Redefine Town Name.

As mentioned in Mayor DiCarlo Responds for Councillor Simone, questions were not answered.

A Look Back – Candidate Patricia Simone

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We had ‘A Look Back’ at Aldo DiCarlo, who is not seeking re-election; now let’s take a look back at candidate Patricia Simone and her SimoneforAburg site.

My Pledge to Amherstburg included:

  • Elected official must direct town employees and administration toward the objectives of the residents. As your elected official, I promise that the taxpayers’ agenda will govern my decisions and I will stand up for the community at town hall.
  • Discussion with elected representatives is important. As your elected official, I promise to be available to answer any questions you may have.
  • Transparency:
    • I believe in open government that communicates with its residents.
    • Information should be readily available.
    • Notice of meetings and proceedings at town hall should be better advertised.
    • We need live streaming of council meetings for those who cannot attend at town hall.
    • I will conduct a complete review of our communication processes to ensure our residents are getting the information they need.

Simone’s other page, My Platform includes:

Consultation

Resident consultation committees have been eliminated. This is the wrong way to go. We need more consultation with residents, not less. I will support the creation of consultation committees that invite input from residents, while maintaining that the final decision-making authority remain in the hands of the elected Council.

Amherstburg Vote 2022

New Clerk Becomes New CAO

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Amherstburg’s town clerk, Valerie Critchley, hired in October of 2021 has become the town’s new CAO, following the sudden departure of CAO Peter Simmons.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo is quoted in the town’s media release, “We are fortunate to have this exceptionally talented CAO on our team and convinced Valerie will successfully lead the way during these exciting times of growth and development.”

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo is quoted in the town’s media release on the hiring of CAO Peter Simmons, “Council has agreed that Mr. Simmons has everything needed to lead Amherstburg into its next exciting chapter and made a unanimous decision to appoint him in this role.” 

What happened?

Amherstburg Council Meeting a Rude Awakening

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You might recall the post Decorum, Please! where I shared my observations about council and the town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee meetings.

The Legion was added as a fourth delegate in the Supplementary Agenda for tonight’s meeting but was invited to be first up.

Second, AMA Sportsmens’ Association rep, who could benefit from disability etiquette: twice he used the outdated and offensive “handicap.”

Third, Nancy Atkinson, Amherstburg Taxpayers Association about the audit.

Fourth, former Councillor Diane Pouget about the town’s credit rating.

Councillor McArthur debated with Pouget and Mayor DiCarlo ended up pounding the gavel and reminding Pouget of the time limit.

Of all the elected officials’ behaviour we sit through, it’s ridiculous that delegates’ democratic input is restricted to 5 minutes; especially considering the soccer club’s delegation was 18 minutes, followed by a 48 minute Q and A for a total of 66 minutes.

Vote October 24, 2022

OPP Policing Costs Compared

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Maybe OPP policed communities can better afford providing services like Tecumseh’s new pickleball courts.

The Tecumseh Police Services Board 2022 Proposed Budget of November 9, 2021 includes comparative policing costs 2020: all OPP policed Essex county municipalities pay less. The budget notes:

For Amherstburg’s 2021 population of 23,524:

Per Capita Cost $282
Per Household Cost $567
% of Total Expenses 13.63%

For Tecumseh’s 2021 population of 23,300:

Per Capita Cost $163
Per Household Cost $419
% of Total Expenses 10.54%

Also of interest; cklw’s story: POLICING COSTS EXPECTED TO DROP IN TECUMSEH IN 2022.

Tecumseh’s New Pickleball Complex

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The Windsor Star article reports: The Zekelman Pickleball Complex officially welcomed players for the first time Thursday at the grand opening of a new 10-court facility in Tecumseh.

The $750,000 complex at Lacasse Park was the result of a partnership between the town and the Tecumseh Pickleball Association (TPA) along with a naming-rights donation of $100,000 by the Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation.