Perhaps it's better NOT to ask the municipal employees for their OK, so that they can honestly say they didn't stir anything up.  Then outside supporters can be as forceful and unambiguous as the situation merits.

Sally Gibson

"Zelenyj, Dan" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Thanks to both Mark and Brian for their input re this important matter.
>
>
>However, the tenor of the communication from Mary Baruth below suggests
>that this clearly is a sensitive issue and warrants proceeding with
>caution.  One factor, yet to be explicitly touched upon, that we may
>wish to consider in whatever direction is taken is the staff at the
>Windsor Community Archives.  Well meaning support from the archival
>community for the WCA program is great, but the downside is that WCA
>staff may be construed as having solicited that support to counter
>decisions, policies, strategies, etc. from above with which they don't
>agree.  Personally, I'm all for a little dissent in the ranks and am not
>adverse to getting my own wrist slapped by my superiors for a good
>cause; the operative word, however, being "my".  Experience in the world
>of municipal realpolitik to me suggests that staff-solicited external
>challenges to internal administrative matters may not sit well with the
>Windsor Archives' political and administrative masters, with potential
>negative consequences for the WCA program and staff.  A very clear idea
>of the lay of the land (including consultation with WCA staff) before
>providing any "support" may be in order.
>
>Best regards.
>
>Dan Zelenyj
>Coordinator, Archival Services
>City of Vaughan
>tel: (905) 832-2281 ext 3129
>fax: (905) 303-2538
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>www.vaughan.ca
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: A forum for discussion for the Archives Assoc. of Ontario
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Walsh
>Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:18 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FW: Corporate Cultural Affairs (Windsor) - Long
>Importance: High
>
>
>Folks -
>
>Below is a message and report received from Mary Baruth, Heritage and
>Cultural Adviser for the City of Windsor.  It answers some of the points
>raised in previous posts, and for that I thank her.
>
>In the report below you will find references to the Municipal Archives
>in section 2(a), 3rd paragraph; section 2(b); and the first and last
>paragraphs of section 3.
>
>It would be interesting to know what level of input was received from
>Windsor's Municipal Archives itself, the ACA, the AAO's Municipal
>Archives Interest Group, or the AAO's Archives Advisor into Windsor's
>planning for the future of its archival program.  Was any archivist
>included in the consultations with "cultural partners, locally,
>provincially and nationally"?
>
>That being said, I would encourage the professional Canadian Archival
>Community to watch with interest as developments unfold in Windsor,
>Ontario.
>
>I wish Mike, and the City of Windsor the best in resurrecting their
>program.
>
>Cheers!
>
>Mark
>
>G. Mark Walsh, C.A.
>Records & Information Analyst
>Records Management Services
>Library of Virginia
>(804) 692-3650
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Baruth, Mary [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:49 AM
>To: Mark Walsh
>Cc: Duben, Michael
>Subject: Corporate Cultural Affairs
>Importance: High
>
>Mark, your emails regarding the establishment of the corporate cultural
>affairs department have been forwarded to me over the last month, and in
>response, I have attached the entire Council report submitted on
>November 1st, 2005 which clearly states the municipal archives will form
>part of the new department. I have highlighted the sections where the
>Municipal Archives and archives in general are mentioned.
>
>You should know that over the past ten years, the archives and the
>museum have been repeatedly offered up by the WPL in response to budget
>reductions from the City, which have created a very unstable environment
>for heritage staff in general. The last budget separately approved by
>Council for the archives was in the late eighties - as a result staffing
>and funding of the archives has dropped considerately to a point where
>there is no archives budget at all. Moving the museum and the archives
>under the City presents an opportunity for capacity building which can
>only benefit and enhance the role of the museum and the archives.
>
>As an aside, a council report  regarding the renovation of a municipal
>facility for records and archives is pending. I expect it to be going to
>Council within the next month. If you have questions regarding this,
>please feel free to contact me - there is more going on here in the City
>than is reported in newspapers and Council reports.
>
>Mary E. Baruth
>Heritage & Culture Development Advisor
>City of Windsor
>Phone (519) 255-5466
>Fax (519) 255-9538
> <<Report Corporate Cultural Affairs 1.doc>>
>
>
>Item No.
>THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF WINDSOR
>Client Services
>    MISSION STATEMENT:
>"The City of Windsor, with the involvement of its citizens, will deliver
>effective and responsive municipal services, and will mobilize
>innovative community partnerships"
>Author's Name:  Michael Duben   Date to Council:   November 1, 2005
>Author's Phone:  519 253-2300 ext. 6163 Classification #:       Author's
>E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
>
>
>To: Mayor and Members of City Council
>
>Subject:        Corporate Cultural Affairs
>
>
>1.  RECOMMENDATION:         City Wide:          Ward(s):
>
>
>a.  THAT City Council ENDORSE the formal establishment of a
>Corporate Cultural Affairs Department as part of Council's ongoing
>commitment to arts and culture in our community; and
>
>b.  THAT City Council direct the CAO and the General Manager of
>Client Services to PROVIDE leadership and direction to members of
>administration who will form the Corporate Cultural Affairs Department;
>and
>
>c.  THAT City Council PURSUE the adoption of a Cultural Policy and
>Plan to be prepared by the Corporate Cultural Affairs Department for
>Council approval prior to December 31, 2005; and
>
>d.  THAT City Council DIRECT the General Manager of Client Services
>and other appropriate members of administration to PREPARE a transition
>plan for the integration of the Windsor Community Museum into the City
>of Windsor organization.
>
>    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
>N/A
>
>2.  BACKGROUND:
>
>a.  Recent Council Direction
>In July 2004, under the direction of a new City Council and Chief
>Administrative Officer, a Heritage and Culture Development Advisor was
>retained to develop a vision and strategy for the delivery of Culture
>and Heritage Services.  In November 2004, while the report was in its
>final draft stages, City Council made the following resolution:
>
>Council Resolution 1029/2004 states that:
>"In accordance with this resolution the Library/City Review Team was
>created to investigate the broader issue of whether there are
>opportunities for synergies between the City and Library Board."
>
>Much of these discussions centered around the delivery of heritage and
>cultural services but also extended to governance and financial control
>issues.  Ultimately there have not yet been any definitive
>recommendations coming forth from this joint committee save and accept
>for a resolution in support of the return of the responsibility for the
>storage of municipal archives from the Library back to the City,
>provided that an appropriate facility could be secured.  (This will be
>the subject of a separate Council Report expected to be presented to
>Council on Nov. 7, 2005)
>
>b.  Legislative Matters
>Section 11(1) of the recently amended Act identifies the spheres of
>jurisdiction for single tier municipalities.  "Culture, parks,
>recreation and heritage," are clearly identified as areas which are the
>whole responsibility of the municipality.  Furthermore, Section 254 of
>the Municipal Act provides that a municipality, "shall retain and
>preserve the records of the municipality," and that, "a municipality and
>a local board shall ensure that an archivist fulfills the
>obligations..."
>
>There is therefore, clear legislative direction that culture and
>heritage activities, including record keeping, falls with the
>responsibility of the City of Windsor.
>
>c.  Current Status of Culture and Heritage
>At present, cultural services within the Corporation are disjointed and
>scattered in pockets throughout Administration.  The resources that are
>available are under-utilized which has resulted in minimal collaboration
>and partnership opportunities and in general, there has been a lack of a
>consolidated approach to heritage and cultural services
>
>The feedback received from Louise Morrison, National Program Manager,
>Cultural Capitals of Canada, following our failed attempt to obtain a
>2004 Cultural Capitals grant was:
>
>"The City provides a lower level of support for the arts and culture
>than other similar-sized municipalities.... Windsor may wish to consider
>dedicating permanent staff and/or resources for cultural planning."
>
>In many ways, this statement aptly describes the current status of
>Heritage and Cultural services.
>
>That state of affairs is further exacerbated by the fact that Windsor's
>Community Museum, continues to be managed by the Windsor Public Library
>with no input or involvement from those members of the City of Windsor
>Administration with cultural and heritage responsibilities and skills.
>This arrangement with the Library further hampers the Corporation's
>ability to make the best of its cultural resources and it precludes the
>Corporation from offering consistent and focused leadership and guidance
>to the arts, heritage and cultural community.
>
>3.  DISCUSSION:
>
>Windsor is fortunate to have a rich inheritance of cultural resources,
>stories, traditions, sites, documents, built social and natural heritage
>features through which our residents retain and develop a sense of who
>they are.  Although, cultural resources are irreplaceable, our
>appreciation of them can be passed on to countless others and renewed
>forever.  City cultural facilities, events, programmes, archives,
>museums provide a source of educational and entertainment to people of
>all ages and backgrounds.  As well, Cultural facilities and events can
>be significant economic drivers to a community and can attract people to
>visit and to live in our community.  City leadership both political and
>administrative, have an important role in ensuring the planning,
>development, coordination, marketing and related needs to connect
>cultural services to an overall tourism and economic development
>strategy is in place.
>
>Notwithstanding, the lack of coordination and the absence of a cultural
>planning policy, City Administration has played a role in developing
>and/or maintaining the following significant cultural services:
>
>*   Mackenzie Hall
>*   Willistead Manor
>*   Heritage Planning
>*   Odette Sculpture Park
>*   Chrysler Theatre
>*   Postcard from Home/Mural Programme
>*   CarTunes
>*   Windsor Armouries
>
>Furthermore, we have identified the following five municipal
>professional staff persons whose positions are related specifically to
>cultural services with many other staff in the Corporation sharing
>interconnected duties.
>
>1.  Michael Duben, General Manager of Client Services
>2.  Mary Baruth, Heritage and Culture Development Advisor
>3.  Nancy Morand, Heritage Planner
>4.  Robert Masotti, Manager, Chrysler Theatre
>5.  Mary Ellen Scully Mosna, Coordinator of Cultural Programming
>
>It is felt that given the cultural assets that currently exist,
>including the Windsor Community Museum and the Municipal Archives, an
>effective coordinated approach to the delivery of heritage and cultural
>services is within reach.  If these assets and the existing cultural
>staff at the City and currently at the Library performing the archive
>and museum management functions are realigned, a consolidated Cultural
>and Heritage Plan can be developed and implemented with the ultimate
>goal of creating another base for economic development in this
>community.
>
>4.  FINANCIAL MATTERS:
>
>As a result of the Culture and Heritage study, there are several
>recommendations regarding the change of various staff roles, titles and
>positions for improved efficiencies in service delivery and in
>maximizing the creativity and potential of staff.  No additional funding
>will be sought but rather a reallocation of existing dollars through
>reallocation and redefinition of staff positions (subject to discussion
>with affected staff and their Union locals). Due to the fact that the
>2006 budget process is underway, the status quo will be maintained for
>the remainder of 2005. It is anticipated that in the spring of 2007, a
>budget will be presented to Council for review.
>5.  COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN
>
>The establishment of a Cultural Affairs Department is an opportunity for
>the City of Windsor to continue to celebrate culture and heritage while
>contributing to an improved image and awareness globally and locally.
>
>6.  CONSULTATIONS:
>
>Consultations were held with the Heritage and Culture Development
>Advisor, various City staff, members of City Council, cultural partners,
>locally, provincially and nationally, and with representatives of the
>provincial and federal government.
>
>
>7.  CONCLUSION:
>
>The first step towards achieving effective delivery of Heritage and
>Culture services is the coordination and centralization of those members
>of City Administration and Library Administration currently delivering
>Heritage and Cultural services.  The development of a cultural services
>team will allow the City of Windsor to capitalize on all available
>resources and maximize the potential of staff and volunteer resources.
>It is felt that now is the time to develop, strengthen and renew
>Council's commitment to cultural services and to capitalize on the
>potential of Cultural and Heritage to be a catalyst for economic
>development.
>
>
>
>
>
>Michael Duben
>General Manager of Client Services      John Skorobohacz
>Chief Administrative Officer
>
>
>
>APPENDICES:
>
>
>DEPARTMENTS/OTHERS CONSULTED:
>Name:
>Phone #:  519         ext.
>
>NOTIFICATION :
>Name    Address Email Address   Telephone   FAX
>
>
>
>
>
>MD:kk
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
>
>This e-mail, including any attachment(s), may be confidential and is intended solely for the attention and information of the named addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify me immediately by return e-mail and permanently delete the original transmission from your computer, including any attachment(s). Any unauthorized distribution, disclosure or copying of this message and attachment(s) by anyone other than the recipient is strictly prohibited.
>