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10 | 29 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 44
ROASTING UP SOME BEANS FOR THE RETAIL TRADE VENTURE PAGE 17
COMMENT PAGE 8
WOOLWICH FAILS TO MAKE CASE FOR PARKLAND SALE
Cowan turns self in after arrest warrant issued again
No further audit of Shantz’s expenses; committee takes Marshall to task Woolwich mayor won’t be subjected to forensic audit, as MECAC calls errors trivial, decries abuse of process
Former Woolwich mayor was a no-show at trial for previous failure to appear; new date set for Nov. 4
STEVE KANNON
WHITNEY NEILSON FAILING TO APPEAR TUESDAY at his ‘failure to appear’ hearing, former Woolwich mayor Todd Cowan had a warrant out for his arrest ... for the second time this year. His lawyer Thomas Brock’s subsequent request to be taken off the case as counsel was granted by the judge. Cowan turned himself into the courthouse later that afternoon and his next appearance in court is scheduled for Nov. 4. Appearing on his behalf, Brock told the court of his many unsuccessful attempts to contact Cowan. This was the same issue earlier this year when Justice of the Peace Zeljana Radulovic issued an arrest warrant for Cowan after Brock explained he had called, left voicemail messages, and sent letters to Cowan more than 30 times. This time, Brock says he’s made even more attempts to reach Cowan, once a day since he last saw his client. Each of his messages went unanswered. “I have phoned Mr. Cowan since I last saw him 49 times; left messages, COWAN | 4
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Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz will be spared any further audits, MECAC decided Monday.
[FILE PHOTO]
SANDY SHANTZ CLEARED HER first hurdle of the week Monday as a review committee rejected a request for an audit of the Woolwich mayor’s election expense claims. It was the second kick at the can for applicant Alan Marshall, whose previous filing had seen Shantz removed from office temporarily, but resulted in no action from the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee (MECAC). The Elmira resident’s actions had Shantz back in court Wednesday, however. At the Oct. 26 hearing, MECAC members were unequivocal in dismissing Marshall’s claims for a forensic audit, chastising him for his handling of the matter and his inflammatory written submissions and comments. Members were unanimous in citing as minor the errors and omissions in Shantz’s original and subsequent updated expense reports
related to last year’s municipal election. “In my opinion these changes aren’t material in amount,” said committee member Kevin Bambrick of the changes and revisions Shantz made to her initial filing. He went on to make a detailed assessment and dismissal of Marshall’s claims. “A compliance audit, I do not feel, would reveal any significant errors, there’s no significant omissions, and I don’t believe there’s any criminal activity here. I don’t think there’s going to be any new information,” added Larry Aberle. Prior to voting to deny the request for an audit, many of the members voiced concerns about Marshall’s assertions about conspiracies and cover-ups in relation to the lack of action taken against Shantz. In his application, followup emails and remarks at Monday’s meeting, MarSHANTZ | 4
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