Tag Archives: amherstburg

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.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo Lone Decision-maker of River Lights Extension

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January 29, 2022: Mayor Aldo DiCarlo answered the questions asked of all members of council; Councillor Prue answered in the previous post.

Since we would not have a meeting until after the original end date, and in response to residents who contacted myself and council, I asked administration to extend the duration of River Lights.  The announcement was well received and I did not receive any negative responses.

I cannot speak for all of council but I was aware that the date to pass a by-law regarding the voting method was May 1, 2022.  I believe the Clerk addressed the error in the report with you.

As with past elections, the town will ensure that any form of voting will be fully accessible.

questions to all members of council January 28, 2022:

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.

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?

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?

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

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.”

AMHERSTBURG LOSES ANOTHER SENIOR STAFF MEMBER

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am800 reports another senior staff member leaves Amherstburg.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo has confirmed the town’s Manager of Planning Services Frank Garardo has resigned and has accepted a position with another municipality in the region.

“These things happen and you kind of roll with it and get on with the hiring process,” says DiCarlo.

Since last summer, roughly 10 staff members have departed from Amherstburg.

It Was The Week Before Budget

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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.

It was the week before budget when all through the town,
No one was laughing, not even one clown.
The numbers were crunched, with precision and flair
But it was fruitless; the savings weren’t there.

The budget was presented, in a positive way,
Feedback was sought, in the form of a survey,
Who would listen? Who would care?
Surely cuts could be made somewhere.

Are rain barrels needed for the environment?
Of course, they are, says the government,
What about policing? What about that?
No, it’s too late; we’ve a 20-year contract.

The residents readied for impending doom
And waited for the meeting to begin on zoom,
There were no surprises, no good quotes
Taxpayers will react when they cast their votes.

Two Different Mayors, Same Mayor’s Message

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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.

Mayor Wayne Hurst’s Message in Amherstburg’s Accessibility Plan from January 2013.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo’s Message in Amherstburg’s Accessibility Plan from 2017 but the date remained January 2013 and the mayor’s message was unchanged.

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.

A Third Perspective – TVO Episode

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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.

My opinion in response to the TVO episode featuring Richard Peddie and Lauri Brouyette, introduced as CO-CHAIRS of Thrive Amherstburg, is a third perspective.

It wasn’t clear if they were representing the group or speaking as independent investors. In response to Ashleigh Weeden’s comments, Ms. Brouyette said ‘We actually did bring in the community with us. We formed a group that we call Thrive and it looks at housing, it looks at healthy living, and everything that we want to be able to offer our community as a large group as a whole. Not just Richard and I. That’s not even close.’

An individual annual membership to join Thrive is $50.00. The THRIVE Board of Directors selected 9 placemaking initiatives and submitted White Papers to town council, one of which was Open Air Amherstburg, a contentious event that creates barriers to persons with disabilities when hair salons, banks, or the post office can’t be accessed due to street closures and almost 50% of the downtown businesses objected to.

I agree with Ms. Weeden: who gets to have a say is really important. Despite the input from persons with disabilities regarding the lack of on-street parking and public consultation of it, and the pleas of some retail establishments, Amherstburg town council will go ahead with Open Air again in 2022.