As the City of Windsor continues to seek answers about questionable credit card expenses by its former library CEO, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 public library staff are combing through receipts and records here.
Before taking the job in Windsor, Barry Holmes was CEO of the Greater Victoria Public Library between Sept. 1, 2006 and March 16, 2010.
Last week, other media reported that $131,606 in expenses was racked up on HolmesB次元官网网址� corporate credit card during his three-and-a-half years in the Victoria job.
The news prompted the GVPL to launch a meticulous review of receipts from that time.
They include three restaurant bills over $200 and 11 higher than $100. There is one $500 expense for skin-care products. Also, there are $682 in late-payment charges.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been digging,B次元官网网址� said library board chair Karel Roessingh. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still going through them B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a very long list.B次元官网网址�
Roessingh admits some of the expenses appear surprising, but he defends Holmes.
B次元官网网址淚 am very confident in saying these were library-related expenses,B次元官网网址� he said.
The body lotion expense, for instance, was spent to buy lip balm imprinted with the library logo, used as a promotion for teens.
The whole library system only had two credit cards. Both were used by many people for all number of expenses, ranging from conferences to software, Roessingh said.
Halfway through HolmesB次元官网网址� employment, the library implemented a new, more strict credit-card policy. The B次元官网网址渧ast majorityB次元官网网址� of the expenses reported by media were made before the new rules, Roessingh said.
Today, he said, the board is confident it has B次元官网网址済ood, careful spending.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 see every expense,B次元官网网址� he added. Plus, there are definite criteria on what expenses are reasonable, and there is a no-alcohol policy.
HolmesB次元官网网址� departure from the GVPL was B次元官网网址渂y mutual consent of the board,B次元官网网址� Roessingh said. B次元官网网址淗is performance was not in question.B次元官网网址�
Rather, there was a difference in opinion over the direction of the library.
Holmes has not been in touch with the GVPL since the debate over his expenses was sparked last week.
B次元官网网址淣obody knows where he is,B次元官网网址� Roessingh said.
The Windsor Star reported Holmes went on sick leave when expense questions started to arise last spring and never returned. HolmesB次元官网网址� lawyer said his character had been B次元官网网址渟ullied beyond repair.B次元官网网址�
rholmen@vicnews.com
