Question: This is not so much a question but a commentary I guess. After researching websites for campaign issues, I was directed to the mayoral candidate’s Facebook page who chose not to participate in answering theburgwatch. I have no issue with not answering, that’s a personal choice. What I do have issue with is them reading all of the candidate’s answers, taking them out of context, and then manipulating them to a perspective that implies incompetence. Perhaps it is a desperate attempt to steal votes or perhaps that’s who they are. Either way, hopefully the voters will question that interpretation before making a judgement.
Limited Accessible Voting Options?
Accessibility information is included on the back of the voter registration: “Accessible voting equipment is available on all advance voting days to assist voters who cannot negotiate a paper ballot. On Election Day this equipment will be available at the Libro Credit Union Centre.”
What will it take for Amherstburg to become as progressive as other municipalities and switch to the more accessible online voting option?
The Burg Watch Policies
I did not think it would be necessary, but a policies page has been created and is located in a tab at the top; the page includes a comments policy and a privacy policy.
The “Fiscal Three”
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.
Give Phipps His Walking Papers
Commentary by Linda Saxon
In May, Phipps confirmed he was leaving (The Windsor Star) before reaching the end of his two-year contract but said, “I feel an obligation to hang in there to see that the election is run properly and legally.” I do not recall any reports that any elections were not run properly and legally, nor do I recall that additional positions were needed to run an election. Besides, if the new CAO is capable, Phipps can leave; he has overstayed his welcome.
Too much emphasis has been placed on the ‘negative’ people in this community and the negative media coverage but when Phipps, as CAO, behaves in an antagonistic manner, how much negativity is created?
I posted Phipps’ email, “So by notice Ms Saxon, you will no longer have to deal with any “insolent” staff because you will deal with me only.”
Unless someone advises me that all the town hall staff have been let go and Phipps will do it all, I will contact whomever I wish and whenever I want to request information as a free citizen. As I advised Phipps and everyone on council, “historically, there has never been a requirement to provide a reasonable explanation for a request for information. However, if council has established a policy for how administration deals with requests, i am not aware of such a policy.”
No one is obliged to disclose any reason for a request, even when filing an official FOI request form, which is rarely necessary where information is freely available through an open and transparent policy. Oh, but the town has no such policy according to Phipps, “With respect to accountability and transparency, I believe the Town has done as much as is reasonably possible to ensure both. There are no written policies.”
Regardless of the decree, “We will not be providing you with hiring policies or the procurement of goods and services unless you can provide me with a reasonable explanation for the request,” my explanation is that i am a person with a disability and i wish to scrutinize my municipality’s policies.
Phipps’ iphone response was, “I will consider your request based on the limited info you have provided.”
As of January 1, 2008, S.270 of the Municipal Act required that municipalities adopt policies in each of the areas that I requested; Section 224 of the act explicitly includes accountability and transparency as part of the role of council.
I imagine the new council will be busy ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and hopefully establishing a policy for dealing with inquiries from the public that would include training in customer service. Phipps is, after all, a civil servant.
Aldo DiCarlo picks up steam in A’burg mayoral race
Mary Caton’s Windsor Star article this evening mentions both the burg watch poll and the Amherstburg Election Prediction Project show DiCarlo in the lead for Mayor.
The “Gang Of Four”
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.
Aldo DiCarlo Comments On ACRG Meet The Candidates
Thank you to the organizers for the opportunity. If this event did not occur, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to reach out to so many people at once. I apologize to anyone I didn’t have the opportunity to speak to, due to the number of voters engaging me at once. Win or lose, I would attend this event in the future if it is repeated in the next election.
Sincerely,
Aldo DiCarlo
Mayoral ‘no show’ disappoints organizers
Mayoral Candidate John Sutton was a no show at last night’s ACRG meet the candidates event; as reported on CKLW AM800, Sutton had a Board of Directors meeting at the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Phipps’ Stand On Request For Policies
October 9, 2014 email from Phipps at 8.32 p.m.
Dear Ms Saxon. I have decided to intervene again on correspondence you have carried on with Paula Parker. Some time ago you requested electronic copies of the following various policies:
Hiring of employees
Procurement of goods and services
When and how notice is provided to the public
How the municipality tries to ensure accountability and transparency to the public
Delegation of powers and duties
You also asked if there was a competitive process for the Elections Coordinator position and a copy of the advertisement/notice.
You finally accuse staff of being insolent. So by notice Ms Saxon, you will no longer have to deal with any “insolent” staff because you will deal with me only.
In a recent email you stated to Ms Parker that “no one has responded” to your request regarding the procedural by-law.
You also recently wrote requesting considerable information regarding the process for hiring the new CAO.
Ms Saxon, I will not allow staff time to be wasted responding to all your requests for information. Although you are a citizen, you have no rights over and above any other citizen. Ironically, from time to time we have some other citizens who request considerable information and we’ve taken the same approach we now will with you. We will not spend staff time and everyone’s tax dollars chasing down everything you’ve requested.
Having said that, here are my comments regarding the above issues you raised:
1 We will not be providing you with hiring policies or the procurement of goods and services unless you can provide me with a reasonable explanation for the request.
2 I have no idea what you mean by “when and how notice is provided to the public”
3 With respect to accountability and transparency, I believe the Town has done as much as is reasonably possible to ensure both. There are no written policies.
4 I have no idea again what you want re delegation of powers and duties
5 The Elections Coordinator was not advertised because it is so specialized based on many years experience required. Therefore you will not receive a copy of any advertisement.
6 I will be providing you with nothing regarding the CAO hiring process.
Just a reminder, you will be required to communicate with me until the new CAO Mr Micelli takes office.
Note by Linda Saxon: Does this mean the town is not in compliance with Section 270 (1) of the Municipal Act? If the policies exist and can be emailed to me, is that a request for considerable information?
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.
the burg watch 