Hello, all. I can confirm that I was consulted informally, but not extensively, about planning for Windsor's municipal archives on a few occasions when I was Archives Advisor.

One of the Archives Advisor's jobs is to help co-ordinate awareness and, if necessary, advocacy. Regardless, we should all be aware of developments in archival programs around Ontario.

Cheers,
Tom Belton
> 
> From: Mark Walsh <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2005/11/30 Wed AM 11:18:26 EST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: FW: Corporate Cultural Affairs (Windsor) - Long
> 
> 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
> 
> 
>