YQG Secrecy; Economic Collapse for Sandwich Town, and City Clerk ignores information request

I didn’t catch all of the council meeting, however a couple of things I picked up on. 

Windsor Airport:  The Secrecy Continues

The secrecy is simply astounding.

In response to Councillor Dilken’s question asking about the status of the recruitment of board members and whether or not it is a priority, Mayor Eddie Francis responded:

Ms. Nazzarrati, among her other priorities is still in the process of developing an ad.  She, I believe was going to call the CVB to borrow the ad that was put in by the CVB recently for their board members.  As you can appreciate, she’s the only person out there right now and among her other duties she’s got to draft up an ad.

Councillor Dilkens:  I appreciate that your Worship, but I would think that establishing the governance of the organization would’ve been one of the top priorities.

Mayor Francis:  It is one of the top priorities, but as members of council are well aware, as you are aware Councillor Dilkens, I did  come to city council during striking committee and did indicate to you that we were working on three or four active files and that our attention needed to be diverted to those active files.    As members of city council are aware we’ve been able to secure two new…uh…uh…two new things at Windsor airport that have not been announced so those priorities as you know were their…

Why does the Mayor do this?   Clearly, during yet another in-camera meeting, councillors were informed of two new developments that have been secured.  What are these developments and why have they not been discussed at an open meeting of council, if they have already been secured?

Sandwich Town isolated:  Economic collapse imminent

Back on February 19th, 2008 City Council instructed:

CR67/2008

That the Canadian Transit Company BE REQUESTED to provide further information on the work to be carried out, and demonstrate why it cannot use netting, tarps or mesh for bridge maintenance. Following receipt of the additional information, the City Engineer undertake a review and make a determination if alternate construction/maintenance techniques are not suitable for the described works; then City Council AUTHORIZE only after a report back to City Council on the exact detours requested with the criteria, that detours only be for a time period solely when said work is directly above the public rights of way to provide protection of the public from debris, subject to the four conditions stated in this report.

This was with regards to the lane closure on Huron Church Road as well as Riverside Drive.

Except today, I noted Riverside Drive was closed at Huron Church Road.  Did Administration finally understand the meaning of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act - that the City of Windsor cannot prevent the Ambassdor Bridge Company from performing maintenance?

I guess Ron Jones got his “Black Letter Law” interpretation, as did MP Brian Masse.

Funny - residents were subjected to their misinformation and yet we don’t hear an explanation from Councillor Jones or MP Brian Masse now, do we?

City Clerk ignores request for information

On March 31, 2008, I sent the following email to the City Clerk, protesting the presence of the Greenlink banner in council chambers:

Dear Madam:

Pursuant to Section 10.18 of the Procedural Bylaw which prohibits:

“The display of placards and signs is not allowed in the Chamber.”

I am requesting that the Greenlink sign in council chambers be removed

I would like to know if council had passed a resolution waiving the procedural bylaw to allow for the display of the Greenlink sign in council chambers during the council meeting of March 31, 2008.  If so, I would like a copy of said resolution. 

If no such resolution was passed, it is my opinion that such display of signage is an affront to the democratic process - particularly when residents have been instructed on several occasions to not do so for their own particular cause.  I find the city’s actions reprehensible if proper procedure was not followed.

If no such resolution was passed, I demand that the city clerk enforce the procedural bylaw which clearly prohibits such a display.

In addition, with regards to the special meeting of council held March 27, 2008, I am requesting a copy of the minutes of said meeting regarding the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

Note, I seek an explanation as well as information, but apparently, the City Clerk is taking cues from Councillor Lewenza by not responding to emails requesting information.  I’ve lost count of the number of days since Councillor Lewenza has not responded to my emails seeking further information regarding the Windsor Utilities Commission.