The questions were diverse and numerous Thursday night as Mayor Michael Prue attended the monthly meeting of the Amherstburg Residents Forum.
Ranging from lack of recreation for young people, to taxes, administration and town council’s perceived lack of co-operation, the mayor stood in front of a group of about 30 local residents answering and commenting for over an hour-and-a-half.
“When are you going to start demanding respect and decorum?” asked Larry Amlin.
“As citizens you can complain to the Integrity Commissioner,” said Prue.
On the same line of questioning, Colleen Fox wanted to know what the mayor was going to do to stop what she felt to be disrespectful behaviour of certain council members.
“If you see it, send me a note and I will talk to them. We are going to have a meeting about meetings getting out of hand,” said Prue.
Del Oxford, the moderator of the Amherstburg Residents Forum cautioned the group on how the evening was to proceed.
“There is no debating, you either like his answers or you don’t,” said Oxford.
In regard to town administration, Amlin wanted to know why Amherstburg has to do so many studies and suggested hiring staff that could do the work.
“People want to make sure it’s done right so we don’t get sued,” said Prue.
There were several queries about the current administration at town hall and many in the audience felt that Amherstburg simply has too many staff and that they are not performing their duties to a satisfactory level.
“I think administration has reached its peak. We are a little top heavy. If there are savings to be made, that is where we should draw the line. We need to make them work harder,” said the mayor.
In regard to taxes, the mayor said that in order for the town to be able to lower the amount residents’ currently pay, Amherstburg needs to attract more industrial developers.
A question was asked about the future of the Belle Vue which the town is in negotiations with Amico. Prue noted the land is valued at $9 million.
Asked about the Duffy’s waterfront property, he said the town is awaiting the next report from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
“The money is there and we are ready. The government determines what we can and can’t do. They only give us an inch at a time,” said Prue.
One man was upset with what he said was a lack of recreational opportunities for youth in the town. The mayor said, “we need to focus on young families and their kids.”
As a follow-up there were many in attendance who wanted a swimming pool and Prue said that that is something he wants as well but noted that it would cost over a million dollars and if it was paid for in one year, that taxes could be bumped as much as five percent.
Prior to coming to Amherstburg, Prue was the Mayor of East York, a City of Toronto Councillor and a Member of Provincial Parliament for 13 years. Shortly after moving to Bob-lo Island, he became a town councillor before being elected Mayor in the fall of 2022.
“I may not run again. I have no idea. I put down 10 goals and so far, we’ve accomplished most of them.”
Among those he said was paying down the town’s debt which he noted is the lowest in 30 years.
Asked if he would return to face the Residents Forum again, the mayor replied, “absolutely.”
Mayor Prue answers questions from local citizens’ group
By Fred Groves
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