Tag Archives: Amherstburg Committees

Concurrent Committee Members

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Amherstburg’s Boards and Committees Appointment Policy, enacted September 26, 2011, could use an update but also adherence to the policy.

“PURPOSE OF POLICY

The purpose of the Town of Amherstburg Boards and Committees Appointment Policy is to ensure a fair and equitable appointment process to Town Boards and Committees where:

  • The most qualified applicants are appointed as Members; and
  • Applicants are representative of Amherstburg’s diverse community with a broad wealth of experience and skills.”

Section 3.4. states Members will not be appointed to more than two (2) Boards or Committees in a Term of Council.

Are Committees representative of a diverse community if concurrent members are appointed and rules are waived?  

Chris Drew:

  • Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Dangerous Dog Appeal
  • Property Standards
  • Livestock Evaluator 2015
  • Fence Viewer 2015

Tony Pietrangelo:

  • Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Fence Viewer
  • Seniors Advisory

Shirley Curson-Prue: Councillor Prue removed himself from discussion and voting due to his declared conflict of interest re her appointment to the Accessibility Advisory Committee

  • Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Heritage
  • Parks and Recreation

Murray Sellars:

  • Co-An Park
  • Fene Viewer
  • Livestock Evaluator

Anthony Campigotto:

  • Committee of Adjustment
  • Drainage
  • Property Standards

Jennie Lajoie:

  • Co-An Park
  • Heritage

Christine Easterbrook:

  • Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Inclusive Community Program Advisory Steering Committee

Kathy DiBartolomeo:

  • Seniors
  • Inclusive Community Program Advisory Steering Committee

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.

Incomplete Committee Minutes Contrary to Accountability and Transparency

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This original post is protected by copyright owner, Linda Saxon, the burg watch, and is not to be reproduced without permission.

Blank portions of Committee Minutes approved by council include:

AMHERSTBURG ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: May 20, 2021, June 17, 2021, August 19, 2021, October 21, 2021

AMHERSTBURG ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: June 9, 2021, September 21, 2021

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: October 7, 2021

HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETING: May 13, 2020, June 24, 2021, August 12, 2021, September 2, 2021

INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAM ADVISORY STEERING COMMITTEE: May 27, 2021, June 23, 2021, July 28, 2021, September 22, 2021, October 27, 2021

PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE: May 12, 2021, August 18, 2021, September 8, 2021

SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES: May 11, 2021, August 10, 2021

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY POLICY Approved November 25, 2019:

Accountability, transparency and openness are standards of good municipal governance that enhance public trust and confidence. Through these measures, the Town will ensure, to the best of its ability, that all activities and services are delivered using a process that is open, accessible and responsible to its stakeholders. In addition, wherever possible, the Town will engage its stakeholders throughout its transparent decision making process.

Committee MINUTES 2021 are posted at an external site.