Tag Archives: Amherstburg Vote 2022

Lack of Reports = Lack of Transparency?

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First there were committee minutes, with blank sections, then in-camera meetings with limited descriptions, then there were missing meeting video links and now there are ‘Reports’ on agendas that aren’t written, according to the new town clerk, Valerie Critchley.

Critchley’s response to my request for copies of the reports presented to the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee at the February 24, 2022 meeting:

“The reports were actually verbal in nature which is why there is nothing posted.

Please let me know if you would like me to send you the audio file so that you can listen to the meeting and I will be happy to send it to you.”

Follow up question: what accommodations are in place for people who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing and unable to listen to audio files?

Critchley’s response: “We could certainly transcribe the material if requested and, if necessary, provide it in large print.”

The Town’s Amherstburg’s Transparency and Accountability Policy contains definitions: 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.

When candidates start spewing out promises of accountability and transparency, ask them, specifically, how they will deliver on those promises.

Vote October 24, 2022

No Response, No Response and No Response

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In the spirit of accountability and transparency, questions were submitted to Amherstburg members of administration. No responses were received.

January 11, 2022 to interim CAO Tony Haddad: i’m writing to inquire what the decision making process was to extend the river lights display through January 2022.

January 11, 2022 to Anne Rota: how many calls did you/the town receive from the community requesting the displays be left on? in what way do you think the extension could “help just one person with that seasonal affective disorder?” what would the extension cost?

January 12, 2022 to interim CAO Tony Haddad: i requested copies of the Annual Accessibility Status Update Reports for the past 3 years. mr. fox emailed me “a list of the committee’s accomplishments” for each of the 3 years, which is not what i was seeking. the town’s website link to the town’s Accessibility Compliance Report to the province is broken. i’m also writing to inquire about the status of the Routine Disclosure and Active Dissemination Policy that former CAO Miceli advised, in February 2020, the Town was in the process of creating.

Councillor Prue Answers Questions

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January 28, 2022 to members of council:

  1. i haven’t received a response from the interim CAO, so i’m writing to inquire what the decision making process was to extend the river lights display through January 2022. i can’t locate any minutes of meeting where this decision was made.
  2. vote 2022 – were you aware that the date to pass a by-law regarding the voting method was May 1, 2022, not May 1, 2021 as mentioned in the Report to council by the interim clerk?
  3. Mayor DiCarlo hasn’t responded to my question regarding the basis for media comments, so i’m writing to inquire why you voted in favour of in-person voting when it’s the costliest, most labour intensive and least safe method during a pandemic? Despite being shielded at council chambers, you hold virtual meetings and the town still is in a state of emergency due to the pandemic, is it not? will you ensure all polling stations and the voting process are accessible to persons with disabilities?

Councillor Prue’s answers:

  1. The decision was made by the Mayor . 2.No . 3.Due to the time constraints as we understood them it was the best option . I asked that on-line voting be considered for all future votes , and yes, all stations and processes will be fully accessible .

No Response From Mayor DiCarlo Re In-person Voting Comments

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January 3, 2022 to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo: you stated residents have made it clear they prefer to cast their ballot in-person. how were you informed of this? when were public consultations held? you also said mail-in and internet voting are not as secure as people coming in and submitting a ballot right there. can you cite the authority you relied on to make this statement?

January 5, 2022 from Mayor Aldo DiCarlo: You didn’t mention where my comments were made.  I would need to know what you are referencing, in regards to my comments, so that I can provide the appropriate context.

January 5, 2022 to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo Your comments were made during an interview with am800 regarding town council’s decision to conduct in-person voting for the 2022 municipal election.

EDIT: January 29 – Mayor DiCarlo emailed, “I did indeed respond to you regarding comments in the media, requesting information for the article you were referencing.  Since you did not provide that information, I could not respond further.”

Response to Mayor, “you are incorrect that i did not provide you with the information referenced. you may not have received it, but i have a copy of it in my sent and inbox folders. i’m resending it below for you to answer.”

Do You Know What A Ward System Is?

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Duh. One of the questions asked in the town’s ad regarding the mandatory public meeting. Fingers crossed the information will be accurate. A bit confusing that you can ask a question in-person but cannot attend in-person due to ongoing public health restrictions. But we can vote in person.

from the town’s website:

Monday, January 31, 2022 at 6pm

WATCH via amherstburg.ca/livestream

QUESTIONS to clerk@amherstburg.ca. Questions will be read out loud anonymously during the public meeting and can be sent prior to the meeting and during the meeting. If you would like to ask your question in-person, complete the Public Meeting Registration. Deadline for this in-person registration is January 31st at noon.

Unable to attend the Virtual LIVE Public Meeting? The meeting will be recorded and made available for the public afterwards.

For accessibility accommodation for this public meeting, please contact the Clerk at accessibility@amherstburg.ca or 519-736-0012 ext 2238.

Members of the public will not be permitted to attend in person due to ongoing public health restrictions.

Local Voting Methods 2022

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Municipality Council voted Administration Recommended
Amherstburg in-person traditional voting
Essex TBA TBA
Kingsville mail-in and in-person only mail-in voting
Lakeshore in-person e-voting: internet and telephone
LaSalle e-voting internet and telephone e-voting
Leamington mail-in mail-in
Tecumseh e-voting internet and telephone Internet and Telephone voting
178 municipalities offered e-voting to its electors in 2018.

Amherstburg Chooses In Person Voting 2022

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Zander Broekel, am800, reports that AMHERSTBURG COUNCIL STICKING WITH IN-PERSON VOTING FOR 2022 MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, other municipalities have opted for contact free methods like telephone, internet or mail-in voting, but mayor Aldo DiCarlo says residents have made it clear they prefer to cast their ballot in-person.

“The obvious considerations are mail-in and internet voting as well, but it’s not as secure as people coming in and submitting a ballot right there,” he continued. “For municipalities who have used the internet, there’s been delays in vote counting and questions about the validity of the votes cast.”