A downtown Windsor resident has launched a petition demanding a city councillor pay back the cost of sending him to a conference in Rome.
Ward 9 councillor Paul Borrelli attended the Liveable Cities Conference in the Italian capital last June. The petition, launched by downtown resident and city hall watcher Paul Synnott, says the trip cost taxpayers $7,500.
Synnott's petition points to Borrelli's vote to replace retail space at the Pelissier St. parking garage with parking spaces.
"Councillor Borrelli's opposition to keep retail space in the Pelissier St. parking garage demonstrates that Windsor taxpayers (sic) did not receive the appropriate value for money from his attendance -- leaving it more than an expensive junket for personal pleasure."
The 7-4 vote by council has raised the ire of others living and working downtown. On Tuesday, Ward 3 councillor Rino Bortolin admitted he's received "a flood of calls" from residents and organizations disappointed with the decision.
Borrelli defends the trip and says he's not paying the money back.
"The money on Rome was very valuable because that gave me a perspective," he says. "Every city has different circumstances. This particular... location was always designed as a parking lot, and people tried to make it retail. It [has] failed since 1983."
He says parking is needed as more University of Windsor programs move downtown and plans to build a new Catholic Central High School come to fruition. He also says the majority of residents he's spoken with agree.
"The Windsor taxpayers that I talked to think I [made] the right decision," says Borrelli. "I've surveyed quite a few and 80% said that was the proper decision."
Borrelli admits the survey was informal and can not provide a copy.
While Borrelli says he doesn't have a problem with residents expressing their displeasure with petitions, he dismisses this particular one calling Synnott a disgruntled former employee.
Synnott says he was paid to help design a webpage for Borrelli and volunteered as an advisor on his election campaign in 2014.
