Get your own advice : province
Spent: A truce
after fiery exchanges
front, tax-free payment members receive in
richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
January of each year. Based on one-third of
H AWKESBURY
their salaries, these sums aremeant to offset
the costsmembers incur in the performance
of their duties.
“I have fought enough,” said
Thibodeau asserts that members are in
Hawkesbury Councillor Michel
fact double-dipping if they seek
Thibodeau November 29, conceding
reimbursement after they have already
defeat in his attempts to reformwhat he
received their one-third payment.
hascalledthe town’s“irregular”expense
At theNovember 28meeting, Thibodeau
policy.
While they locked horns over compensation, Councillors Alain Fraser (left) andMichel
noted that the mayor and Councillor Alain
The comment signalled at least a
Thibodeau agreed that the town ought to clarify its spending policies.
Fraser hadalready surpassed their personal
temporary truce in a war of words
expense accounts. The mayor has a budget
members have been engaged in for the
of$3,000whileeverycouncillorhasabudget
last two months.
ATTENTION : Hawkesburyet environs
of $1,750 to attend functions. Berthiaume
Thibodeau, a former town treasurer,
and Fraser contend that the allocations are
has tried toamend the rulesgoverning the
too low, theexpenses are legitimateand that
reimbursement of council’s expenses.
thetotal$13,500budgetwillnotbesurpassed
At theNovember29meeting,members
because other members have not fully used
voted 5-2 to retain the current policies,
fully their allocations.
with Thibodeau and Councillor Johanne
In a 5-2 vote, with Thibodeau and
Portelance dissenting.
Portelance dissenting, members rejected a
The previous night, during the regular
resolution that the mayor reimburse $2,675
council session, members became
and Fraser reimburse $472. The members
embroiled in a heated and bitter debate
later voted 4-2, with Fraser and Councillor
over the reimbursement rules.
Michel Beaulne dissenting, to ask the Police
One contentious clause effectively
Services Board to investigate an error that
permits the town to indirectly make
resulted in Berthiaume being paid $661
contributions to political parties.
twice. Berthiaume already had reimbursed
Thibodeau notes that it is illegal for
the money, paid for a trip to a police
political parties to accept money from
FERME SES PORTES POUR TOUJOURS!
conventioninsouthernOntario.Berthiaume
municipalities and other bodies that
abstained from voting on that resolution.
receive government support.
However, for years, council members
have attended activities organized by
political parties and have been
reimbursement for attending these
functions.
Mayor René Berthiaume has insisted
Maintenant vous ne payez que
that this is common practice and the
political schmoozing pays off for
Superbe sélection de bijoux or, diamants et argent ainsi que montres sont encore disponible. Faites vite pour meilleure sélection
taxpayers.
You Are On Your Own
Clarification is not available from the
51¢
OntarioMinistryofMunicipalAffairsand
Housing.
“We encourage municipalities when
drafting theirby-laws toconsult theirown
solicitors if concerned about the legality
of a by-law. Persons concerned about the
L’inventaire peut être augmenté pour une meilleure sélection. Magasinez tôt pour un meilleur choix.
sur la piastre des prix étiquetés
specifics of a by-law should seek
independent legal advice,” says ministry
spokesman Richard Stromberg.
Not finished
While cooler heads prevailed at the
131, RUE PRINCIPALE EST, HAWKESBURY, ONTARIO 613 632-2992
special November 29 meeting, the issue
has not yet been settled. Members agree
that the personal allocations ought to be
LUNDI, MARDI, MERCREDI : JEUDI, VENDREDI : SAMEDI : DIMANCHE :
9 H 30 À 17 H 30 9 H 30 À 20 H 9 H 30 À 17 H 11 H À 16 H
reviewedand that reimbursableexpenses
be more clearly defined. These questions
are tobe tackledduring thepreparationof
the 2012 budget.
The other bone of contention is the up-
Mayor René Berthiaume
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