Guysborough's new expense policy allows alcohol purchases

The Municipality of the District of Guysborough has adopted new expense policies but council and staff will still be able to buy alcohol with taxpayermoney.

The purchase of alcohol was highly criticized in a CBC News investigationinto Guysborough's spending practices.

"They shouldn't be allowed to expense alcohol," local resident Susanne Roy said."They're spending taxpayers money."

After reviewing the new municipal policies,Roy wrote to both the premier and the municipal relations minister.

She saidthe municipality is showing a complete disregard for its residents, and that she wants the Nova Scotia government to do a forensic audit ofGuysborough'sbooks.

Secret drink purchases

The Guysborough council adopted four new policies in early November, including one on hospitality. It recognizes that "the provision of beer and wine for diplomacy, business development or promotional advocacy is an acceptableexpense in limited circumstances."

Guysborough'shospitality policy seems to be based on the Nova Scotia government's rules for cabinet ministers. Both recommend giving preference to alcohol produced locally.

Travel expenses will be posted online on a monthly basis, butthose postings will not include what's spent on alcohol.

Province formingcommittee

Nova Scotia's Minister of Municipal Affairs, ZachChurchill, did not respond to the call for a forensic audit. In an email to CBC, officials said the department is committed to ensuring "transparency and accountability in
municipal expenses."

The email also pointed out that the province isforming a committee with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Association of Municipal Administrations to "strengthen and standardize municipal expense policies across the province."

The committee will look at the practice of municipal officials paying for alcohol.

'Corporate business model'

Warden Vernon Pitts would not do an interview with CBC News, but in areport in the Guysborough Journal, he defended the move.

"The [municipality of Guysborough] is not like other municipalities.We operate under a corporate business model," he said.

The travel expenses posted online will only cover electedofficials. The policy will not apply to Guysborough'schief administrative officer, Barry Carroll, nor the economic development officer, Gordon MacDonald.

Carroll and MacDonald do most of the travelling onbehalf of the municipality.

The newly adopted travel and expense policy also will allow councillors and employees to continue using the federal rate formileage and meal allowances.

"So they are making more money than our provincial MLAs and that to me seems ridiculous," Roy said.

Guysborough also approved a values and ethics conduct policy.

The Nova Scotia Office of the Ombudsman is investigating acomplaint into Guysborough's spending.

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