City of Chilliwack will be hiring an independent auditor to review Coun. Sam WaddingtonB次元官网网址檚 expenses in detail dating back to the beginning of his term, and refer the findings to the RCMP.
| One of a series of redacted emails regarding Chilliwack City Coun. Sam Waddington's expense claims that have been forwarded to the RCMP. (City of Chilliwack) |
Mayor Sharon Gaetz and Coun. Ken Popove, who are also running for mayor along with Coun. Waddington, recused themselves from the discussion and voting Thursday on the audit motion, in order to avoid any conflict of interest.
B次元官网网址淲e chose to do so that there could be no suggestion it was an attempt to influence the election,B次元官网网址� Gaetz said.
Any time something is referred to the RCMP it is B次元官网网址渁 very serious matter,B次元官网网址� Gaetz added.
Mayor Gaetz, and Coun. Chuck Stam, both publicly asked questions about WaddingtonB次元官网网址檚 already authorized expenses, with each filing separate freedom of information (FOI) requests for details about out-of-town conferences and meetings.
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A unanimous vote of council in August requested details about who he was meeting met with, why he was paying for elected reps who have their own expense accounts, and what value it offered for the taxpayer, to which Coun. Waddington responded with a lengthy report.
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Since then, some of the people Coun. Waddington stated in his report that he met with have come forward to say this is not true.
Coun. Waddington said after ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 meeting that his next step will be to refocus on his mayoral campaign.
B次元官网网址淚 will be continuing to have good conversations around housing, and policing, and the many challenges we are facing in Chilliwack,B次元官网网址� Waddington said.
B次元官网网址淓veryone should be held accountable for their work,B次元官网网址� the councillor said adding he will continue to offer full transparency.
But the ongoing discussion about almost $1,500 of his 2017 expenses, which has cost B次元官网网址渢ens of thousandsB次元官网网址� of dollars worth of city staff time gathering information, is B次元官网网址減olitical,B次元官网网址� he underlined.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 believe this effort is administrative, I believe it is political,B次元官网网址� Waddington said. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a very expensive endeavour for the city, so it will be up to the public to decide if this was the right course of action to take.B次元官网网址�
According to the city release, council will have to B次元官网网址渃orrectB次元官网网址� information filed and disclosed to date under Section 168(1)(b) of the Community Charter, and disclose the six related email messages and amended minutes from the Sept. 4, 2018 Council meeting.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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