Chaos, controversy dominate Wabana meeting

The Wabana town council meeting deteriorated into 2.5 hours of continuous arguing, insults and accusations Tuesday night as an ongoing dispute boiled over.

The meeting also included a rare public firing of a municipal employee, heated exchanges between some of the more than 50 people in the public gallery, and a determined effort by Mayor Gary Gosine to counter arguments that the town is plagued by mismanagement, poor leadership and misconduct.

• Forensic audit sought as furor divides Wabana council

It's the latest in a months-long feud that has deeply divided the council and, it seems, citizens of the town of 2,400 residents.

Tension-filled affair

Councillors clashed over just about every item on the agenda, with the 50-plus people in the public gallery also showing their displeasure at what was a tension-filled affair.

The problems began when Gosine announced that no one in the gallery would be permitted to address council.

This touched off a chaotic scene as citizens argued their right to air their concerns, with nearly a dozen people storming out of the chamber and continuing their tirade in the lobby.

It took another 20 minutes of bickering just to adopt the minutes of the previous meeting, and the nasty tone continued throughout the night.

An RCMP officer in attendance to give his regular report to council had to intervene on several occasions.

Most of the bickering involved Gosine and Coun. David Foley, with continuous jabs over rules of procedure, council expenditures, fees paid to the town’s consultant, so-called credit notes, office staffing and much more.

The biggest bombshell came late in the meeting when a motion to terminate suspended tax collector William Peddle passed by a vote of 4-2.

Ordinarily, personnel matters are conducted in privileged meetings.

Proof of wrongdoing

Peddle learned about his termination on Twitter, and later stormed into the meeting, referring to some members of council as “crooks.”

He was escorted from the chamber by the RCMP officer, and later told CBC he has proof of wrongdoing in the town, and was being fired because he asked too many questions and would not fall in line with council and other employees.

When asked if he planned to produce such proof, he said he would be talking to his lawyer.

Gosine said the termination was justified, explaining that Peddle had refused to provide information to the town.

At the heart of the dispute are allegations that some property owners in town are receiving discounts on their taxes, which Mayor Gosine and most other members of council vehemently deny.

An audit of the 2013 financial statements also raised questions about the town's accounting practices, with the money from a quarter of a small sample of receipts tested not matching up with bank deposits.

Foley and Warford have repeatedly called for a forensic audit, but have been rebuffed by council.

Gosine said such an audit could cost taxpayers upwards of $60,000.

The municipal mayhem comes just days after a review by the Department of Municipal Affairs. The review identified several areas where improvements should be made, but nothing out of the ordinary, Minister Keith Hutchings said on Monday.

Coun. Donovan Taplin said the litany of allegations being raised by Foley and another councillor, Ben Warford, have not been proven, and he described the behaviour at council Tuesday evening as "savagery."

"Either you have access to information and we don't, or your information is not accurate," said Taplin.