Wabana taxpayers urged to attend public meeting

A concerned citizens committee in Wabanais calling on residents to assemble at a public meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss "issues concerning the taxpayers of our town."

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at St. Cyprian's Church, and is the latest in a long-running council dispute that has deeply divided the Bell Island town of 2,400 residents.

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The meeting is expected to be closed to the media.

A poster being circulated in the town calls on all councillors to attend, but Mayor Gary Gosine said he won't be at the meeting "under the advice of our solicitor."

Coun. David Foley, a member of the committee and outspoken critic of the mayor, refused to say what will be discussed at the meeting.

"I'm not trying to make a story out of it for anybody," Foley said.

Peddle says he does not have confidential documents

Meanwhile, aformer part-timetax collector who was fired in dramatic fashion during a tense and crowded council meeting on Nov. 25 is also being threatened with legal action by the town for withholding "confidential and private information."

In a Dec. 7 letter to William Peddle that was obtained by CBC News, lawyer Twila E. Reid of the firm Stewart McKelvey alleges that the former employee possesses personal tax information of "certain residents of the town," including Mayor Gary Gosine.

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The letter asks that Peddle return the documents, including any electronic or copied information, within 48 hours.

"Failure to do so will result in the town taking further legal action against you," the letter states.

When contacted Tuesday afternoon, Peddle said, "I got no documents. Period. None. Gone."

The letter alleges that Peddle "showed some of this information at a public meeting and on CBC TV broadcast."

Peddle denied this, saying he never exhibited any documents during a public meeting, or passed along any documents to the CBC.

Peddle was earlier suspended

The concerned citizens committee, meanwhile, is comprised of town councillors BenWarfordand David Foley, William Peddle, and Donna King and Gary Jenkins.

Peddle, one of two tax collectors hired by the town earlier this year,was suspended by the actingtown clerkthis fall after refusing to turn over a report.

Peddle told CBC he refused to co-operate because he was told his report would be edited, and he would not be permitted to attend a meeting at which it would be discussed.

In the days leading up to his dismissal, Peddle spoke publicly about what he called wrongdoing in the town, including favouritism.

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Councillors Warford and Foley have also raised serious concerns about the town's fiscal accountability, and have repeatedly called for a forensic audit.

Emotions boiled over during the Nov. 25 meeting when council voted 4-2 to terminate Peddle's employment before an audience of some 50 people in the public gallery.

Peddle learned about his fate moments later on social media through a CBC message on Twitter.

He stormed into the meeting anddescribedsomecouncilmembers as "a bunch of crooks."

Gosinesays opponents 'spreading lies'

Outside the meeting, Peddle repeated his assertions of wrongdoing in the town, and said he was fired in order to silence him.

Peddle said he has proof of his allegations, and said he would be talking to his lawyer before announcing his next steps.

When asked on Tuesday about this proof, Peddle said he would "wait for an investigation," and would not elaborate.

Gosine accused his opponents of "spreading lies" and added, "I can't wait for the true facts to come out. And they'll come out soon."

Despite the bitterness, Gosine said the town is making progress.

He said interviews took place Tuesday for the new position of chief administrative officer with the town.

Three candidate are also in the running for a Dec. 16byelectionto fill one vacancy on council, he added.