SaltWire E-Edition

Review process hits slight delay

Charlottetown council still waiting for identity of independent third-party auditor

DAVE STEWART THE GUARDIAN dave.stewart @theguardian.pe.ca @Dvestewart

The City of Charlottetown’s probe into allegations made by two former employees is going to drag out a little longer.

A special meeting of council was originally supposed to take place prior to the regular meeting of council on Aug. 8, but it was announced that Donna Waddell, the interim chief administrative officer (CAO), had tested positive for COVID-19 and wasn’t able to make it.

Waddell was to have disclosed the identity of the independent third-party firm that will conduct an investigation into allegations made by Scott Messervey, who was fired as deputy CAO in 2019. In 18 accusations against the city corporation, Messervey accused the city of committing financial irregularities, failing to adhere to its own bylaws and potentially breaching provincial laws in some cases.

Those concerns were echoed by his successor, Tina Lococo, after she, too, was fired by former CAO Peter Kelly this past April.

Mayor Philip Brown said that special meeting will now take place as soon as Waddell is well enough to attend.

However, Coun. Bob Doiron is still questioning the process the investigation will take.

The city’s accounting firm, MRSB, is to turn over all files to the independent investigator.

Doiron doesn’t think MRSB should be involved at all, and he wants a legal opinion.

“They brought concerns that they thought were issues with the financial well-being of the city corporation,’’ Doiron said following the regular public meeting of council on Aug. 8. “In the process of trying to move this process forward, I’ve been asking for a legal opinion to see if our accounting firm (should be) involved in the process.’’

Doiron was also critical of the fact this investigation comes three years after Messervey raised his concerns.

Waddell replaced Kelly in May and was asked by council on June 27 to conduct a thorough review of the allegations.

Brown spoke to the delay, saying it hasn’t been easy finding an independent investigator but also stressed that it isn’t MRSB that will be doing the audit.

“MRSB, the auditors for the city, will present the information to a third party,’’ the mayor said at the Aug. 8 council meeting. “Hopefully we’ll find out more information on (who the third party) is next week.’’

Brown said the audit will address each of the 18 allegations made by Messervey.

Doiron said he’s pushing hard for answers because council has already waited three years to do anything about it and there is a municipal election in November.

“We’re trying to get this investigated, these 18 concerns, before there is a change of council and it’s pushed aside,’’ the Ward 6 councillor said. “This council has to be accountable, and I’d like to see this done before this council moves on. This is a cloud that is hanging over us.’’

THE ISLAND

en-ca

2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281556589600235

SaltWire Network