Tag Archives: Amherstburg Open Air

Emergency Access Concerns Raised by Councillor Pouget in Amherstburg

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On June 7 at 9:26 am, Councillor Pouget emailed Fire Chief Bruce Montone pertaining to concerns regarding closed streets, attached a photo and commentary by David Wharram and copied the CAO.

Please find attached a photo and comments made on the Amherstburg Residents Forum Website.  Since this article appeared, I have been bombarded with questions, regarding emergency access to our downtown streets, during the 43 days of closures.

Due to the fact, that you were tied up with an Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing for the last four (4) days, I delayed in sending my concerns to you.  It is ironic, that the OLT Hearing, involved a very contentious proposal for a boutique/hotel on this same street, dealing with fire safety concerns.

I understand you do not live in our community and the closed streets occur mostly after your working hours and on the weekends, so you might not be aware of these activities, that appear to be blocking the streets.  Due to the fact, that bollards are in place at the Dalhousie/Murray, Dalhousie/Richmond, Ramsay/Murray, Ramsay/Richmond Street intersections and tables, tents and games appear to be obstructing these roadways, I am asking for your advice, if you are aware of these issues and if you are concerned with this matter.

Perhaps, as a daughter of a volunteer Amherstburg Firefighter for 35 years and I as a member of Emergency Response Ontario for 23 years, I am very aware of the importance of emergency vehicles to have quick response times,

with unobstructed pathways.  The photo provided implies obstruction to a very busy street.  In the case of an emergency, how would our residents and tourists escape, when being blocked in with very large buildings on both sides of the street?  Would  they have to rush to the intersections of Dalhousie/Richmond or Dalhousie/Murray to escape?  What about our residents with accessibility issues? 

On another note, I am equally concerned about the Rib Fest to be held in the downtown core next weekend.  I copied you on an email on May 23rd, but I did not receive a response from you.  I am very worried about the placement of 4 large cookers on asphalt on Ramsay Street and the fact that tables will be set up in a confined space behind the Dalhousie, Ramsay, Richmond, Murray Street businesses and apartments.  What effect will this have on emergency vehicles access, when all these streets will be closed?  

Please note, that as a Councillor for the Town of Amherstburg, I am copying the Amherstburg Residents Forum to inform them, that I am asking these questions on their behalf as well as my concerns, regarding these important issues.

Photos and Commentary by David Wharram

Amherstburg Fire Department Open Air Assessment and Event Safety Guidance

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Reposting an article from October 2021 because of ongoing safety concerns regarding closed downtown streets. Amherstburg Fire Chief Bruce Montone provided me with these documents 5 days after I requested the disclosure.

open air assessment;

Events – afd a document that is provided on occasion to event organizers should they require additional guidance.

There are no specific dates for the original 2020 or the 2021 review.

Hear Delegate Request Discussion June 12, 2023 Council Meeting

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Listen to part of the audio regarding delegates’ request to be delegates at the June 12 meeting, as mentioned in the post about Deputy Mayor Gibb’s comments,

Unofficial transcript:

June 12, 2023 Delegations Discussion

Mayor Michael Prue  We’ll pass that and then we’ll go back if necessary. All those in favor? That’s carried. Anybody want to hold any of those for amendment, change? Okay. I now have delegations, oh, Councillor Pouget.

Councillor Diane Pouget  And, but I just had some concerns that we’re still just approving minutes from the January 23 meeting and January 30 meeting. I understand that we were short staffed at one time and now that we have our full complement, I’m prepared under new business to make a motion to make sure that it’s more that we’re receiving the minutes more timely.

Mayor Michael Prue  Okay, we are now full staffed and this is four minutes in one meeting so I think they’re catching up as fast as they can. But thank you, thank you for the note. Delegations. Madam CAO, there was there’s we don’t have any listed but I understand that there was a request. The clerk, uh Mr. Clerk on zoom there, can you inform council?

Clerk Thank you your worship. Yep, the town did receive a number of requests for delegations in advance of this meeting. Some have been deferred off until the next meeting as they were incomplete or had missed the timeline. And at present, they are scheduled to be reviewed for placement at our next council meeting.

Mayor Michael Prue  All right. Then there, I guess. I see a couple of hands are Councillor MacArthur first.

Councillor Donald McArthur I know that I received a note earlier today from somebody who wanted to speak on the pickleball issue. I’m not sure if they’re in the audience tonight. And I had informed them that sometimes counsel waives the rules. So we just we just need to know if anybody, I want to hear from pickleball players if they’re here tonight.

Mayor Michael Prue Councillor Pouget.

Councillor Diane Pouget Thank you and Nancy Atkinson had requested to speak and she’s here tonight and I understand she wants to speak to also.

Mayor Michael Prue Okay, all right. And again, I’ve heard those two but before we deal with them, I understand that the clerk who was on Zoom tonight had had something he wishes to inform council about.

Clerk Certainly, so, yeah, in terms of Ms. Atkinson’s delegation requests. So we have received an initial request, was not complete. And then more fulsome submission was provided although it still lacks considerable detail. So we did provide that that would be held in advance and could come forward from the next meeting should sufficient detail be provided. So certainly, that is still in the works and is still working its way through the procedural bylaw in accordance with councils direction.

Mayor Michael Prue  All right. So now I Councillor Courtney.

Peter Courtney Through you to the clerk. Yes, I too have spoken with Mrs. Atkinson. She told me the back and forth that was required. I guess my question to you is how descriptive; are we looking? Are we looking for a template that says, Hi, my name is so and so, and they got to read exactly verbatim. What? Because we can all read that on the agenda. But again, I’m confused on what protocols and procedures to be a delegate but to me the way it was explained and again I’m not taking any sides here. It seemed pretty robust and stringent on expectation. So for instance, I could submit something a one paragraph say this is what I want to say to council. And that’s all I want to present. And then they get to the lectern and they can pretty well add lib or go off of questions and answers and all those other things and really speak about anything they want. And there’s not really too much we can do. So I guess in regards to the scrutinizing or screening of delegations, what realistically is needed by law to allow our residents to speak freely in our democratic society? That’s all.

Clerk yeah. Certainly the you know, our office does take that seriously as civic participation is, you know, sort of what we do. The original submission itself did not even include the subject matter for which the delegate wished to present. That was provided, but of course that was provided after the agenda had been created. And was outside of the timeline. So certainly, any submission should at least speak to what it is that the member wishes to discuss. And usually it would include some sort of proposal or action item for council on that matter, so

Peter Courtney I can, I can appreciate that. So if she was trying to be a delegate, and she sent the information off, but you knew the intention was to be a delegate for this. Could we not assume is it appropriate content for this council to hear tonight, since this was the desire of the resident, now that you have it even if it’s after the protocol, because we waive the rules, we’re going to waive it for pickleball and this person tried to actually follow the process and procedures.

Mayor Michael Prue It’s at the discretion of Council and we haven’t waived, we haven’t I’m going to deal with both of them, one after the other. Okay. So if Council wishes to waive the requirements, the clerk is telling you what the requirements are and that they were not met but Council can waive them and so I’m going to deal first of all, with a request of Councillor MacArthur, to waive the requirements to hear deputants on Pickleball is that your motion? Is there a seconder to that? Councillor Crain? Is there any discussion on that? All those in favour? That’s carried. We’ll now hear the residents, any of you who wish to speak on the pickleball issue?

Hear Deputy Mayor Gibb On Dalhousie Street No Parking Sign

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Nancy Atkinson requested delegate status at the June 12 town council meeting, although she was not listed on the agenda. However, she was allowed to speak once council waived the rules, as it had already done for a pickle ball rep.

Ms. Atkinson, representing the Amherstburg Residents Forum mentioned three concerns, Deputy Mayor Gibb responded regarding the new no parking sign on Dalhousie Street.

Listen to part of the audio from the June 12, 2023 town council meeting.

Unofficial transcript:

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb  Thank you worship. I’m going to be angry at myself if I don’t say this. So later on I’m I’m as the deputant said, I can look in the mirror. I have a lot less faith in the fact that people are trying to suggest this is a parking issue. And I want council to know, I suspect this has everything to do with a hotel that was recently approved, and that’s why people want to get rid of that parking spot, or they want to make it physically impossible. I listened to you when you spoke.

Mayor Michael Prue  Please, please, please. 

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb  There’s your deputant. 

Mayor Michael Prue  Okay, no, no, please, please.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb  I just want council to know that’s what I suspect this is all about. And council needs to know that before they ask for more staff time on a report for later on.

Mayor Michael Prue  No, no, no, I’m not. No, I’m sorry. I’m not. No, you made your deputation. This is now the prerogative of Council. We have a motion on the floor. After after the motion was put on the floor. I can’t I can’t allow that. It belongs it belongs to council. Okay. Councillor Allaire.

Hear Open Air Barriers Discussion – Deputy Mayor Gibb And Councillor McArthur

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Hear the audio of a portion of the February 22, 2023 meeting and a portion of the discussion about accessibility barriers during the closed streets of Open Air; text is set out below. 

Unofficial transcript:

Deputy Mayor Gibb 
Okay. And as my second thing I wanted to address because I’ve heard that a lot over the last couple days about accessibility of Open Air. I don’t identify as someone with a disability but my mother-in-law and father-in-law both live at Richmond Terrace. And I’ve personally pushed a wheelchair from Richmond, well, one of their each wheelchairs from Richmond Terrace downtown, and I’ll tell you, you cannot believe the relief to be able to get off of our uneven sidewalks with trees growing out of them and all kinds of obstacles. They’re not wide enough. To me, Open Air makes the downtown more accessible for people with in at least in wheelchairs because I’ll tell you right now, try and push a wheelchair down one of those downtown sidewalks and you’ll see exactly what I mean. So we enjoy bringing them for Open Air because we don’t have to worry about trying to maneuver the wheelchair on a narrow uneven sidewalk so that’s I just want to put my two cents in there.

Councillor McArthur
Thank you Your Worship. I mean, I’ll happily champion Open Air when the time comes when the time is right I’m not sure if that time is now though. I mean, the motion on the floor is correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s to boost the you know this tourism budget by $80,000 to fund the True Festival, the car show, the Santa Claus parade, Truth and Reconciliation, River Lights, plus a contingency; we’re not looking for a boost to Open Air funding, correct?

Anne Rota 
That’s correct.

Councillor McArthur 
Okay, so I mean, I think I might keep my powder dry because as things stand right now, Open Air’s a go until someone tries to rip it apart. And I hope they don’t do that and we can discuss that when they do.

Tell Anne Rota there are barriers; email arota@amherstburg.ca

Copy me at theburgwatch at gmail.com

Hear Open Air Barriers Discussion – Councillor Pouget And Anne Rota

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Hear the audio of a portion of the February 22, 2023 meeting and a portion of the discussion about accessibility barriers during the closed streets of Open Air; text is set out below. 

Unofficial transcript:

Councillor Pouget
Okay. And further to that. I really can’t support Open Air three days a week four days on long weekends. Because I can’t tell you how many people have contacted me whether or not they have disabilities because, you know, we’re putting up barriers making it very, very difficult not only for people with disabilities, but for others to use the goods and services that we provide for the town of Amherstburg. And we’re hearing over and over again, just like Councillor Courtney and Councillor Allaire stated that this hurts a lot of the businesses right in the downtown core. They don’t want it and the other people in the other areas McGregor and Malden Centre this doesn’t benefit them at all either. So I cannot justify even if it was a wash about the amount of money due to the fact that it hurts a lot of people and it prevents people with disabilities from using these facilities. I can’t justify three days a week or four days on long weekends.

Anne Rota
Through to you Mr. Mayor, I really want to address the accessibility. That is the wrong information. Yes, we do have what they’re called. No, they’re plastic Jersey barriers, Jersey barrier. Thank you. They are spaced for vehicles not to come into the footprint. We have students at every entrance and exit where the Jersey barriers are. The students staff first of all, they anyone can get through it is assessable. And secondly, if someone needs special assistance, we’ve actually walked them or driven them with the little golf cart, absolutely make sure that everyone can be accommodated to get through and I know I think there’s two handicap parking spots within the Open Air footprint. That’s what is not accessible but the ones beside Caffeine and CO there’s we’ve added another three assessable parking spots there. So we go above and beyond to make sure that is number one that it is accessible. So I don’t agree with that. I’m really sorry.

Councillor Pouget
So, there’s different areas of accessibility somebody could be virtually have problems seeing or whatever, hearing when I see all the streets and they’re packed, and that’s good that they’re packed at that time. But we really expect a caregiver to be able to drop them off, not be able to find parking at all and then to either get in a golf cart, that could be very dangerous to all the pedestrians that are down there, try to squeeze through these places. That is not the way you treat people with disabilities. You treat them with equal opportunity and they don’t have that there.

Anne Rota
Through to you, Mr. Mayor, there are no barriers in Open Air. There are not please come down and have a look. I know that for a fact. It’s not just the golf cart. We’ve actually opened up our arms if someone needs to get through. We’ve never had one complaint. That’s the honest truth in three years, and I’m sure we would have. Thank you.

Tell Anne Rota there are barriers; email arota@amherstburg.ca

Copy me at theburgwatch at gmail.com

Then-Candidates Prue And McArthur On Open Air At Chamber Candidates’ Nights

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Then-candidate Prue mentioned his hope that some of those businesses will contribute; then-candidate McArthur mentioned conditions that are going to allow a hotel to open and flourish in downtown Amherstburg. Excerpts of their speeches are below, as well as links to the Chamber of Commerce videos.

Question from the moderator to the mayoral candidates: What are your views on partnering our tourism department with other municipalities to lower costs?

Michael Prue:

I know it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but…We need to have a real hard look at that and see whether or not it should continue. If it continues I would hope that some of those businesses will contribute because it should not all fall on the taxpayers. If they are making money off this and they want to have it keep going then they have to shoulder some of that responsibility. But I do think that Open Air is a good thing, and I had a really good suggestion from someone the other day we put up barricades, but there are stores on both sides of the barricades that are not getting business. We should put up big posters at the end to say it doesn’t end here at the barricade. There are stores in this direction in this direction and this direction to make sure everybody has an opportunity to benefit.

Chamber of Commerce YouTube video: Prue’s comments at 2:25:58

Question from the moderator to the councillor candidates: What are your views on the future of Open Air?

Donald McArthur:

My views on this are pretty well known. I love open air weekends. I’ve been a proponent from the start.

If we send a message as council that we believe in the transformative potential of Open Air weekends those are the conditions that are going to allow a hotel to open and flourish in downtown Amherstburg. If there are issues with accessibility, we need to ensure that we have accessible parking spaces on the edge, but we need to invest in open air it needs to continue because it’s fantastic for residents and for our tourists.

Chamber of Commerce YouTube video: McArthur’s comments at 33:58

Three Councillors Campaigned To Remove Barriers During Open Air

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The burg watch Open Air posts’ viewing statistics have increased, particularly then-candidates’ opinions, which is worth repeating.

Will you remove barriers during Open Air weekends that block people with disabilities from driving to the bank, local stores, bars, and generally driving through town?

  1. Councillor Peter Courtney: Of course I would!
  2. Councillor Diane Pouget: Yes, I am definitely in favor of removing barriers for people with disabilities during Open Air.  The fact that 51% of the businesses in the downtown core want the closure of streets for 3 days on weekends and 4 days on long weekends from May to September is unreasonable and unfair.  This is especially true, since 49% claim that Open Air hurts their business, especially their clients with disability issues.  Further to that, the taxpayers are footing the bill to hurt our most vulnerable residents.  It was disappointing to learn that only one person with a disability was consulted. This is unfair and must be revisited.
  3. Councillor Linden Crain: Yes. It is important that all members of the community can experience Open Air. If there are particular barriers in place, I am more than willing to investigate further and help find a solution.

Councillor Donald McArthur: If there are persisting issues with accessibility, let’s work collaboratively to address them in consultation with the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. Let’s not give up on something that engages our youth while promoting economic development, something that sets our Town apart in a positive way and creates the sort of bustling environment where a hotel cannot only open but flourish.

Councillor Molly Allaire: I love Open Air Weekends, my family partakes every weekend for sure. I will be honest after going door to door my eyes have been opened up to a great deal of problems in our town that I was unaware of. Open air has many positives and negatives. I think the blockades that they created this year allow better parking for the majority. We could make it more accessible for people with disabilities by blocking off the waterfront parking area specifically for them allowing closer access to amenities. I also believe that open air is wonderful but should only be one day instead of 3. Many residents say that it is more of a nuisance trying to get to their bank, business, home etc. Business owners have stated that their business has actually done worse during these hours because lack of access to the area. I think having it one day would be a fair compromise and make it still an event for people to come and enjoy.

No Answers:

Mayor Michael Prue
Deputy Mayor Gibb

2023 Open Air – A Done Deal?

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The 2023 Amherstburg Collection Calendar (recycling, garbage & yard waste) indicates ‘Open Air Weekends – Downtown Streets May – October.’ 

I’ve added a red arrow to May and August in the bottom right corner to the notation about Open Air.

The town’s tourism department actively promotes events on social media after decisions are made, so is it really necessary to advertise a tourist event in the waste calendar prior to a decision on the event?