Halifax council committee members have requested a strategy to enhance financial transparency in both the mayor’s office and the broader municipality following a review that questioned $111,000 in Andy Fillmore’s mayoral expenditures. The finance committee decided to task the chief administrative officer with devising corrective actions subsequent to the June audit, which highlighted four transactions processed by Fillmore’s office that did not adhere to municipal protocols. As a result of the audit findings, the regional auditor general escalated the issue to the RCMP for further investigation.
During the committee’s deliberations on Wednesday, Fillmore refrained from participating due to potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, the approved motion, including adjustments proposed by the mayor, expanded the plan’s scope to encompass not only his office but the entire municipality. In a statement released following the decision, Fillmore acknowledged the auditor general’s conclusions, emphasizing the importance of comprehending the root causes of issues, rectifying vulnerabilities, and preventing future occurrences to uphold accountability.
The finalized plan, expected to be presented to the council within two months, aims to strengthen oversight for taxpayers. Councilor Sam Austin expressed hope that the proposed plan would reassess a previous decision by the municipality’s former chief administrative officer to grant increased autonomy to the mayor’s office, a move that Austin criticized for its negative outcomes.
The municipality’s auditor general, Andrew Atherton, informed the committee in June that he involved the authorities after completing the audit due to the complexity of the issues identified. Fillmore mentioned that he and his team had received additional training on procurement procedures and clarified that the questioned transactions underwent proper approval processes involving senior officials.
One of the major expenses in question involved hiring a human resources consultant, initially budgeted at $50,000 but ultimately amounting to $90,000. The audit revealed that the contract was negotiated directly without competitive bidding, with indications of a preference for the chosen consultant within the mayor’s office. Despite these findings, the invoices for all four expenses, including legal services and hiring a speechwriter without following proper procurement practices, were approved as reasonable.
Fillmore personally reimbursed the legal expenses, asserting they were not personal in nature. The mayor stressed the importance of addressing the identified shortcomings to uphold accountability and transparency.