Category Archives: Accountability

Lack of Reports = Lack of Transparency?

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First there were committee minutes, with blank sections, then in-camera meetings with limited descriptions, then there were missing meeting video links and now there are ‘Reports’ on agendas that aren’t written, according to the new town clerk, Valerie Critchley.

Critchley’s response to my request for copies of the reports presented to the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee at the February 24, 2022 meeting:

“The reports were actually verbal in nature which is why there is nothing posted.

Please let me know if you would like me to send you the audio file so that you can listen to the meeting and I will be happy to send it to you.”

Follow up question: what accommodations are in place for people who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing and unable to listen to audio files?

Critchley’s response: “We could certainly transcribe the material if requested and, if necessary, provide it in large print.”

The Town’s Amherstburg’s Transparency and Accountability Policy contains definitions: 4.8.  Transparency means how outside parties, such as the public, are able to observe how the decisions of Council, Staff, Committees and Local Boards are made. The Town of Amherstburg actively encourages and fosters stakeholder engagement in its decision making process.

When candidates start spewing out promises of accountability and transparency, ask them, specifically, how they will deliver on those promises.

Vote October 24, 2022

Lack of Link = Lack of Transparency?

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Residents notified me of the lack of links to view meetings and I verified the town’s calendar page for the February 28 regular council meeting did not contain a video link.

It’s worth repeating, as mentioned in the post, No Link To Committee Meetings Workaround, how is transparency possible if people are unaware of a workaround to the lack of the town’s posting the links.

The Town’s Amherstburg’s Transparency and Accountability Policy contains definitions: 4.8.  Transparency means how outside parties, such as the public, are able to observe how the decisions of Council, Staff, Committees and Local Boards are made. The Town of Amherstburg actively encourages and fosters stakeholder engagement in its decision making process.

LASALLE YOUTUBE CHANNEL – town residents can view council and some committee meetings, just like some other municipalities in the province.

Committee Meeting Videos Not Available Afterward

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Videos of meetings increase transparency and accountability but, according to deputy clerk Tammy Fowkes, “Currently, it is only Council meetings that have the IT resources to create and publish the videos.

The minutes are the official records for both Council and Committee meetings.  The Town does go a step above for Committee meetings and records the audio to be placed on the website.  Technical requirements to produce videos for each Committee meeting is very involved and requires many resources that are currently not available.”

The audios, if they’re posted, create barriers when members mute the audio, the audio is a poor quality, and members do not identify themselves. What accommodations are in place for people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing?

No Link To Committee Meetings – Workaround

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Municipal Act 239 (1) Except as provided in this section, all meetings shall be open to the public.  2001, c. 25, s. 239 (1). Municipal Act

Adoption of policies

270 (1) A municipality shall adopt and maintain policies with respect to 5. The manner in which the municipality will try to ensure that it is accountable to the public for its actions, and the manner in which the municipality will try to ensure that its actions are transparent to the public.

Transparency and accountability are not possible if no links are provided and people are unaware of the steps they need to take when the town does not post links to view meetings.

An example of no link posted on Amherstburg.ca: click on picture to view full screen.

The Town of Amherstburg’s Transparency and Accountability Policy contains definitions:

4.1.  Accountability in this policy refers to the principle that the Town is obligated to demonstrate and take responsibility for its actions, decision and policies.

4.8.  Transparency means how outside parties, such as the public, are able to observe how the decisions of Council, Staff, Committees and Local Boards are made. The Town of Amherstburg actively encourages and fosters stakeholder engagement in its decision making process.

Workaround:

Locate the date of the meeting in the council/committee calendar section of the town’s website.

Click on the html link of the Agenda column; it’s faster to load than the pdf.

Select/highlight https://www.amherstburg.ca/livestream.

Right click and choose options to open in new tab, new window or copy and paste into browser.

Amherstburg To Get Long Term Care

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