For decades, since the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, a majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities.
The River Town Times ad states, A majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities or caregivers of persons with disabilities. Caregivers cannot be substituted.
Background
During a council meeting earlier this year, Councillor Michael Prue had a question about committee minutes, the presence of his wife, Shirley Curson-Prue, at a committee meeting and the recording of votes.
Mayor DiCarlo said the minutes would be looked into and any corrections required would be made.
Present
On August 4, 2022, I read the August 8 town council meeting agenda and emailed all members of council that the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAAC) meeting minutes June 23, 2022 were incorrect.
“The minutes indicate the motion was ‘that the delegation be received.’ However, following my presentation, Chair Shirley Curson-Prue asked, “May I have a motion to receive this document?” Chris Drew said he’d make the motion which was then seconded by Angela Kelly and carried. The audio is available online.”
I assumed errors were to be corrected.
On Friday, August 5, Mayor Aldo DiCarlo emailed, “Thank you for the clarification.”
On Monday, August 8, council received the AAAC minutes without comment.
I watched today’s rescheduled Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.
Committee members still stray off topic, but did finally have a discussion regarding keeping track of money allocated to projects and decisions regarding the same. For quite some time I have wondered why resolutions were not passed and recorded in the minutes for reference. In the future, an unfinished list of sorts will be used. Why it took so long I have no idea, especially when a few members sit on other town committees.
I didn’t hear the committee members deal with an AODA Alliance tips for committee members that I forwarded through town clerk Valerie Critchley. I also sent it to members of council so they would be better informed; see below.
“This Update gives members of AACs and SEACs practical tips on how to give as strong a voice as possible to disability issues. We identify seven areas of concern and then provide a fuller explanation for each point below. In summary, here is what all members of AACs and SEACs should know:
1. AACs and SEACs should set their own meeting agendas! Don’t let city staff or school board staff set their advisory committee’s agenda or tell them what topics are “in order.”
2. Members of AACs and SEACs must remain free to also be disability advocates in private and public.
3. Inaccessible virtual meeting platforms and application forms are not allowed.
4. Public deputations to an advisory committee should not be artificially limited to five minutes.
5. Municipal and school board bylaws cannot hog-tie the work of an AAC or SEAC.
6. Members of the public are free to talk to or exchange emails with advisory committee members about accessibility issues, including those on the advisory committee’s agenda. (emphasized for council’s attention).
7. AACs and SEACs have an absolute right to have their recommendations and advice shared directly with all the city council or school board trustees whom they are appointed to advise, and not just to a sub-committee.
Please share this Update with members of the AAC and SEAC in your community. Urge your member of city council and school board trustee to read this and to send it to all members of their AAC or SEAC.”
the burg watch 