The Town of Amherstburg’s website notice regarding Mayor Hurst’s postponement of the regular council meetings scheduled for October 6 and November 3 has not yet been updated.
As a result of a Municipal Act s.240 petition to Paula Parker, town clerk, a November 3, 2014 Special Council Meeting has been scheduled.
Edited: The petition, signed by Deputy Mayor Sutherland, Councillors Bart DiPasquale, Robert Pillon and Diane Pouget was presented to Paula Parker on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m.
Commentary by Linda Saxon
Following amalgamation, the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services’ decision regarding the ‘new’ policing proposal was, “From the standpoint of staffing, deployment and supervision, the proposal overall appears sound, and if the proposal is implemented as presented, it should allow for adequate and effective policing in the Town of Amherstburg.”
Three patrol zones were proposed with 24 hour a day policing and a maximum strength per 12 hour shift of six officers: 3 in Zone 1, 1 in each of Zones 2 and 3. Another officer would support all three zones as may be required.
The minimum strength per 12 hour shift was to be one officer per zone with a minimum strength of four officers until 4:00 a.m.
By 2010, as noted on page 8 of the Amherstburg Police Service Annual Report, “The Town is divided into 2 patrol zones ensuring that all areas receive an ongoing police presence.”
In a December 9, 2011 commentary, Amherstburg Police Chief Berthiaume Tight-lipped About Deployment, I asked, how will we know if we’re getting the service that was proposed if there is no accountability?
The question is just as relevant today; the only way to determine the best policing option for our community is to undertake a full comparison and obtain an OPP costing. Council’s decision should not be a subjective one based on speculation or fears, but an objective one based on facts and figures.
Five of the seven essex county municipalities are policed by the OPP as are 324 of the 444 Ontario municipalities; what have we got to lose?
In response to the Commentary, “No Commitment To Remove OPP Clause In Police Contract,” Aldo DiCarlo’s comment is:
This is an issue that I have spent a considerable amount of time on, specifically because of the large potential savings, $1M or more. At last night’s debate, Deputy Mayor Suttherland stated that an OPP costing takes at least 18 months. As a taxpaying resident, not a just a mayoral candidate, this both angers and frustrates me. If it does indeed take this amount of time, why then did not a single council member make the motion to request the OPP costing. If one of them did, I would like to know who and why it was voted down. ALL contracts have an expiry date. Did a single one of the current council members do their due diligence in requesting an OPP costing early enough so that we could have reviewed our options now that the contract is being negotiated? I believe the answer is no, and I’d be happy to be wrong.
The ACRG (Amherstburg Citizens For Responsible Government) has added a new tab called the “fiscal three” that displays how the fiscally responsible council members voted in the last 11 months.
The ACRG (Amherstburg Citizens For Responsible Government) has added a new tab that displays how the ‘gang of four’ voted on some of the issues over the past 11 months.
Adoption of policies
270. (1) A municipality shall adopt and maintain policies with respect to the following matters:
1. Its sale and other disposition of land.
2. Its hiring of employees.
3. Its procurement of goods and services.
4. The circumstances in which the municipality shall provide notice to the public and, if notice is to be provided, the form, manner and times notice shall be given.
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.
6. The delegation of its powers and duties. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 113.
Two inquiries to Shawn McCurdy, President, Amherstburg Police Association have been unanswered, but a River Town Times article states, McCurdy said he couldn’t get into details with regards to details of the negotiations but indicated that if the “poison pill” clause were to come up, the association would be willing to discuss it.
The “poison pill” clause, which gives veteran officers a payout should Amherstburg switch to OPP policing, is something that McCurdy said the association is “more than willing to look at” if the board wishes to discuss it. He noted it was instituted in 1998 when Amherstburg police had better pay and pensions than that of OPP but he added “things have come full circle” where OPP makes more money now and pensions are comparable.
Do you know who you are voting for? Will they represent you and your issues? Is anyone making promises just because it’s campaign time? Are you feeling a blast of hot air? Did you notice any new and refreshing ideas? Did you know you do not have to vote for all seven seats?
To make it easier to get to know the candidates, links are now on the right sidebar from their names to their River Town Times’ profiles if available; I also included a link to the Windsor Star profiles below the list of candidates.
In 30 days voters will head to the polls and elect a new council for the next 4 years. Are you ready? Are you getting to know the candidates and their platforms? Are you comparing performance records with campaign promises if candidates are running for re-election? Notice any inconsistencies? Can you spot the rhetoric? Has anyone surprised you or impressed you?
the burg watch 