A request from the Windsor Police Services Board (WPSB) to allow an extension for the submission of an operating budget estimate by one month led to a discussion over the town’s role with the board itself.
“As you are aware, Section 9.3 of our policing contract with the Town of Amherstburg requires that we provide an operating budget estimate to the Town no later than August 31st . However, the 2025 City of Windsor budget issue development stage will conclude on August 30, 2024. The preliminary operating budget estimate will then be before the Windsor Police Service Board at its meeting scheduled for September 19,” the letter dated Aug. 29 from Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, the WPSB chair, reads. “I am writing to you with a request that the Town of Amherstburg allow an extension for the submission of the operating budget estimate to September 30, 2024.”
Not only was Amherstburg town council cool to the WPSB request, the role of Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue on the WPSB was debated by council. As it did earlier this term, the issue of Prue’s role and how much he is allowed to be involved became a bone of contention locally.
Prue said former Mayor Aldo DiCarlo was given a vote on the board during the first portion of the contract. Once the contract was renewed and now that the second five-year term of the contract is underway, the current mayor is allowed on as an advisory member but does not have voting rights, per the contract.
“I am allowed to attend the meetings, or at least parts of meetings, and I am removed from meetings when anything to do with Amherstburg comes up,” said Prue. “I am not allowed to be in the room. They consider us a client, not a partner. When this item came up, I was not in the room. This memo came to me the following day asking this be granted.”
The Amherstburg mayor added he was “deeply disappointed” that when openings came up on the WPSB, such as when it went from seven to nine members, another Windsor city council was appointed and Amherstburg was “ignored.”
“They had an opportunity to put somebody from Amherstburg on there but chose not to,” said Prue.
Prue added he still attends meetings, mostly but his role is limited.
“It is becoming increasingly irrelevant for me to be there,” he said. “I just want council to know if somebody else wants to go, you will have voice and no vote and you won’t be able to stay in the meeting room when they discuss Amherstburg. Just so everyone knows, that’s the way it is.”
Councillor Don McArthur said it was “disappointing and disconcerting” to hear what Prue had to say. Regarding the budget extension request, McArthur said Windsor knew the deadline was coming and sent the letter the day before.
“It shows a startling lack of foresight and organization. I’m not inclined to support this,” said McArthur. “We have a contract, they have a deadline. They should meet it.”
Councillor Molly Allaire asked what would happen if the town opposed the extension, believing not much as the letter was a courtesy.
Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb wanted to know if the policing contract spells out the ability to attend meetings. CAO Valerie Critchley said the contract says the mayor has a vote the first term of it, but Windsor city council would consider an Amherstburg representative for subsequent term.
“They did not have to do so,” said Critchley.
Critchley said council could direct administration not accept a budget from the city, but predicted that wouldn’t go very far as a one-month delay wouldn’t be considered “egregious.”
Councillor Linden Crain said the delay in the operating budget estimate was “upsetting” and believed the letter could have been sent earlier.
“We’re 21 days out from when they’re looking to send it to us. I’m not sure what else we can do but grant the extension. It’s already late,” said Crain.
Gibb said it is “distasteful” to get late notice but agreed with the CAO that it’s not egregious enough “to take it to the next level.” He added if the town enters into a business relationship, “it is incumbent on the Windsor Police Service Board to allow Amherstburg’s representative to be in the room to hear the discussions.”
It is a regional partnership, the deputy mayor said, and others at the county level are judging this relationship. Gibb suggested sending a letter allowing Prue to be in the room for “all pertinent information” that is being discussed.
Prue emphasized the town is viewed as a client. He said his problem is not so much that he has to leave the room when Amherstburg issues are discussed, but that a town representative wasn’t chosen to fill any vacancies that arose but rather another member from Windsor city council.
“We’re left out. That’s the problem,” said Prue. “We have become nothing more than a client. We’re a client and they don’t want the client in the room.”
Councillor Diane Pouget said there have been other issues, including a lack of Amherstburg representation on local police cars. Correspondence has since been received that three cars will get Amherstburg references. She added police stats were lumped in with the city and she said she asked for a full report with that still forthcoming.
McArthur said the extension was granted by being late, so he didn’t believe “we should write a letter saying it’s OK.” Critchley said if council voted no to the extension, essentially nothing would happen.
“We’ll get the estimate and move forward from there,” she said.
A motion to grant the extension for one-time only was defeated. Critchley recommended writing an in-camera report on the matter, due to potential legal issues. Town council passed a motion to that effect.
The RTT will attempt to get a response from Windsor for a future issue.
It is a regional partnership, the deputy mayor said, and others at the county level are judging this relationship. Gibb suggested sending a letter allowing Prue to be in the room for “all pertinent information” that is being discussed.
Prue emphasized the town is viewed as a client. He said his problem is not so much that he has to leave the room when Amherstburg issues are discussed, but that a town representative wasn’t chosen to fill any vacancies that arose. He said another Windsor councillor was chosen.
“We’re left out. That’s the problem,” said Prue. “We have become nothing more than a client. We’re a client and they don’t want the client in the room.”
Councillor Diane Pouget said there have been other issues, including a lack of Amherstburg representation on local police cars. Correspondence has since been received that three cars will get Amherstburg references. She added police stats were lumped in with the city and she said she asked for a full report with that still forthcoming.
McArthur said the extension was granted by being late, so he didn’t believe “we should write a letter saying it’s OK.” Critchley said if council voted no to the extension, essentially nothing would happen.
“We’ll get the estimate and move forward from there,” she said.
A motion to grant the extension for one-time only was defeated. Critchley recommended writing an in-camera report on the matter. Town council passed a motion to that effect.
The RTT will attempt to get a response from Windsor for a future issue. Prue's role on WPSB, budget timing debated
By Ron Giofu
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