MSSRS. MICELI AND MARSHALL ARE AT IT AGAIN!

By:  Harold G. LeBoeuf

Proposed pedestrian gateway next to the main entrance to Willistead.

Now the “Daring Duo” intend to install a “pedestrian gate” adjacent to the existing main entrance to Willistead, and they plan on obtaining approval for this change from The Heritage Committee at its next meeting. Miceli states, “Our plan is to add a pedestrian gate on Niagara which was part of the original gates to the Manor.” That Miceli possesses information about the original gates, perhaps he would be so kind as to supply us with a picture of the original pedestrian gate. As you may conclude in the following, approval of this additional project must be considered a fait accomplis in view of the work that has already been done in this regard, as was the proposal for the labyrinth of serpentine asphalt roadways that now exist throughout the park.

Miceli seems to imply that the sole purpose of the proposed gateway is to restore what he says existed in the beginning. Really! He also states, “We have a report as was requested by the heritage committee dealing with the details of the gate and the entrances to the park from Devonshire, Richmond, Chilver and the main gate on Niagara. The report is complete and we are hoping to have it on the agenda on the next heritage committee meeting.” Do Miceli and Marshall really believe that the public is so gullible as to imply that they, and The Heritage Committee, are keenly interested in restoring the Willistead property to what it originally was after the vile desecration they have accomplished to the grounds? Please produce the report that you say is in your possession, Miceli. Both of them have long since lost any credibility that they may have enjoyed, yet once again they are prepared to ramrod another pet project down the public throats with all of the gall and temerity they can muster.

Then what may be the true purpose of installing such a gateway; to provide easy access to those unfortunate persons who have a physical disability; to enable city vehicles to conduct maintenance in the park? Just who on earth do they think they are kidding? The real purpose must be to control access by the public to this public Willistead Park! There can not be any other legitimate purpose for this maneuver. They, not The Heritage Committee, want the ability to control access to the park when such functions as Art-in-the-Park and their pet beer tent festivals are being held. Apparently they believe that the citizens of Windsor are bound and intent on sneaking onto the grounds of the park on those occasions without paying the precious entrance fees. At those times, they will be able to close and lock the gates to the driveway to ensure that no person enters without paying. What’s next, Miceli and Marshall? Do you plan on installing barbed wire on top of the fencing all around the park? Perhaps installing security alarms and cameras to ensure that you caught everyone could follow at some future point.

I urge the readers to take a closer look at what has already been installed by the Daring Duo’s henchmen and, in spite of anything the two may say the purpose is, come to your own conclusions. 

New electrical installation from light standard.

New electrical control.

New electrical outlet next to proposed gate.

Miceli made reference in the foregoing statements about a requested report by The Heritage Committee, and he also suggested that such a gate was present in the original configuration of the fencing surrounding Willistead. Tell us Mssrs. Miceli and Marshall, was all of this new electrical installation also a part of the original configuration that The Heritage Committee is so interested in restoring? And why is the electrical outlet configured for 220-240 volts of electricity? Have you simply used that type of outlet to prevent the general public from stealing electricity using a normal two-prong or three-prong plug, or do you have yet another project in mind?

It really would be nice if, just for once, Miceli and Marshall were totally honest with the public as to what their real intentions are with these changes. They certainly weren’t very candid when it came to the proposed changes for the asphalt roadways. But one must conclude that they are not willing to admit that their sole purpose is commercialization of the Manor and the Park.

And by the way, who authorized the cost for the electrical installation, the base for whatever pad is going to be installed (probably more asphalt or even concrete), the construction of the new gate, etc.? It most definitely wasn’t included in the authorization extended by Council for the roadway labyrinth. Has Miceli got a slush fund he can draw from? Thankfully, Miceli will no longer be with us after mid-October when he takes up his new digs with the Town of Amherstburg as its new CAO. Better them than us! And hopefully, Marshall will take the hint and voluntarily leave his post on the Board of Willistead Manor.

To the current members of Windsor’s Heritage Committee, Councillor Fulvio Valentinis, Lynn Baker, Simon Chamely, Robin Easterbrook, Andrew Foot, Jeffrey Mellow, and Noreen Slack, do not be hoodwinked yet again by the nefarious plans of the Daring Duo. Commercialization of the Willistead grounds and manor as envisioned by these two is not consistent with the preservation of this historical, city gem any more than your authorization for the construction of the hideous asphalt roadways for the benefit of Art-in-the-Park and perhaps other venues was. There is absolutely no need for the construction of this pedestrian gateway other than for the nefarious purposes set out in the foregoing. Please, do what you were appointed to do in good conscious. Don’t feel that it is necessary for you to follow the edicts of Miceli and Marshall. They do not have the best interests of this heritage property in mind.

And finally, I would like to show you what other municipalities and countries are doing rather than using precious natural resources to create ugly asphalt roadways.

Paving machine laying down pavers in perfect herringbone pattern.

If new pathways were really a necessity, and they weren't, it certainly 

is much more presentable than ugly wide asphalt roadways isn't it?  

And the machine can accommodate many widths automatically.