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10 | 11 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 41
OCTOBER'S FOR BOOSTING AWARENESS LIVING HERE PAGE 35
COMMENT PAGE 8
THANKSGIVING PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON HUNGER ISSUES
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Woolwich council approves new expense policy, credit card controls STEVE KANNON Hot on the heels of an investigation into Mayor Todd Cowan’s expense claims, Woolwich Township has put in place new policies for council expenses and use of corporate credit cards. Councillors meeting October 7 approved the new policies. Among other guidelines, the rules governing expenses clearly disallow as ineligible expensing: Items for personal use, expenses unrelated to the Township of Woolwich, and expenses incurred by a third party, for example expenses paid or requested by a group or individual other than an elected official. Credit card use is to be strictly defined and backed up with documentation. Along with discovering double billing of both the Region of Waterloo and the township, the review of Cowan’s expenses showed he used his corporate credit card for personal
expenses, though he did reimburse the township in each instance. His was the first case of a credit card being issued to a Woolwich council member. That investigation by the township and region found some $2,700 in expenses paid by Woolwich but also reimbursed to Cowan by the region. The councils of both municipalities referred the matter to Waterloo Regional Police. The matter was later widened when a review of Cowan’s expense claims to the Grand River Conservation Authority found $465 in mileage claims that may have been double-billed. In presenting the new policies to council Tuesday night, director of finance Richard Petherick said the goal is to make expense claims more transparent in order “to maintain fiscal responsibility.” Coun. Bonnie Bryant, arguing councillors don’t POLICY | 6
Fangs for the funds
Breslau Public School students celebrated raising more than their $5,000 goal for the Terry Fox Foundation with principal Joe Lepold and vice-principal Sharlene McHolm puckering up to Irwin the python. From left to right with the number signs are Andrew, Tyson, Alyssa, Owen, and Mya. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]