The policing issue has once again risen to the forefront almost six years after the Town of Amherstburg turned to Windsor for service.
The City of Windsor has informed the Town of Amherstburg it intends to opt out of the current policing contract. Town council will be discussing the matter at an in-camera meeting late Monday afternoon.
Mayor Michael Prue confirmed the town has been informed of Windsor’s decision.
“It’s in the early stages,” said Prue. “It is what it is.”
Prue, who sits as on the Windsor Police Services Board (WPSB) as an advisory non-voting member, said he had no knowledge of it through the WPSB and learned of the city’s decision when all members of Amherstburg town council did.
“We all found out together,” said Prue. “The CAO is meeting with the CAO of Windsor.”
Prue said the next steps will be discussed Monday afternoon.
“We’re not panicking or anything,” said Prue. “We’re finding out what is going on. My own reaction? I just shook my head.”
The Amherstburg mayor left the door open for different possibilities, including continuing with the Windsor Police Service.
“If the contract doesn’t continue, we’ll have to look at other options,” he said. “If it does continue, we’re fine. All kinds of things are possible in the world of politics.”
Prue added he is looking forward to what CAO Valerie Critchley has to present to town council in-camera Monday afternoon and, after that, “council will make a decision.”
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the way the contract was built, it allowed for extension of terms up to 20 years. He said if one side wanted out, they could provide 18 months notice to the other party. Dilkens indicated Windsor is providing four years notice to Amherstburg, as the current contract runs through 2028.
When the city reviewed the dollars and cents of the contract, the Windsor mayor said it no longer makes financial sense for his community. He said Windsor taxpayers have been partially subsidizing policing services in Amherstburg and said if it were the other way around, Amherstburg would feel the same way.
“This isn’t acrimonious for us,” said Dilkens. “This has to make financial sense for us.”
Dilkens said it is a matter of finances and what works for the City of Windsor. There is no provision in the current contract to renegotiate so when city council took the recommendation from the WPSB, they “did the right thing” and opted out.
A letter was sent to Critchley who then brought it to Amherstburg town council, said Dilkens. He added Amherstburg asked for and receives a high level of service but after a few years of policing the town and getting into the “nitty gritty” and “microdetails” of what it takes to do so, they got a better look at the monetary picture.
Amherstburg has options of continuing with Windsor and working out a new deal, going to the OPP which Dilkens believes would give the town a lower level of service, partnering with the LaSalle Police Service or re-establishing the Amherstburg Police Service.
“We’re willing to have conversations to see if there is a pathway forward. We’re not upset,” said Dilkens. “It’s about making the contract make financial sense. We’re very much appreciative of our relationship with the Town of Amherstburg. Our issue is simple, it’s a financial one. It’s not overly complicated. It’s a dollars and cents issue.”
The town contracted out policing services to Windsor in 2019 after town council voted in late 2018 to proceed down that route. The 3-2 vote from the council of the day saw then-Mayor Aldo DiCarlo and councillors Leo Meloche and Rick Fryer in favour. Jason Lavigne and Joan Courtney, both councillors on that term of council, were opposed. Bart DiPasquale, then the deputy mayor, and Councillor Diane Pouget both declared conflict of interest.
Lavigne recalled being one of the people who was “crucified” publicly for pointing out issues, and said this one of the things that he and others warned about.
“It’s unfortunate but some of us said this would happen,” said Lavigne.
Lavigne said the majority of people he heard from, including police officers themselves, did not want the switch to happen. He questioned what happens now and whether the town has the money in place, should they have to switch back.
“How prepared are you?” he said. “Is there a process ready to go? Is there something in place the public can see? Show us on paper you saved X amount of dollars for five years.”
Other issues, including the mayor not having a vote on the WPSB after the first five-year term of the contract, were also well known, said Lavigne. He said he was among those who raised the issue about the mayor's ability to vote in 2018 and questions why current council members are upset about it.
“How could you not know about it if you are doing your job?” he asked.
Smaller municipal councils need to take more control of issues province-wide instead of being “glorified cheerleaders.”
Lavigne added when he was on council at the time, he e-mailed Windsor city councillors about how they were selling the switch to their residents.
“No one responded,” he said. “I got crickets.”
As for the current situation, he also questioned who is “leading the charge” and if there are committees in place to further study the matter.
By Ron Giofu