Richmond County officials feeling the heat after ombudsman report

Politicians in Richmond County, N.S., are feeling the heat after CBC News obtained a scathing ombudsman's report into expense claims this week.

The full report outlines a "culture of entitlement" among elected municipal officials and the chief administrative officer, citing a list of examples where officials "double dipped" in claims for meals and mileage and expensed thousands of dollars for dinners and alcohol, with little or no oversight.

• 'Culture of entitlement' slammed after officials expense booze, Valentine's Day flowers
• Read the full ombudsman report

CAO Warren Olsen has declined several opportunities to comment.

Warden Victor David said he wished he could speak directly to the report, but he has been instructed to wait.

"Until everything is said, until they've answered to the ombudsman whether or not what's in there are accurate statements, and everybody has the opportunity out to do it, including the CAO ... it's a confidential report and it will be released by the ombudsman when everything is finalized," said David.

Fresh start for voters

Richmond MLA Michel Samson said it's been a "difficult time" for the municipality.

"Hopefully now with the municipal election coming, there's an opportunity and I think voters are clearly saying that they expect the new council is going to tackle these issues right off the bat and be able to start with a fresh mandate," said Samson.

The report said the former warden and CAO "incurred large restaurant and entertainment expenditures" and "often the same people were in attendance, including other municipal and provincial public servants."

Samson said he had dinner meetings with Richmond officials, but said "as far as how they were expensed, that would have been the responsibility of the municipality."

"I was asked to attend certain meetings and I did so."

Dining documents

Documents from the municipality obtained under freedom of information requests show that in October 2014, Samson dined at the Keg in Halifax with then-warden Steve Sampson and an executive assistant.

The statement says it was an "evening dinner meeting" to review municipal priorities. The bill came to $203 and was expensed to Olsen's visa.

In January 2013, Sampson charged $1,048 at the Five Fishermen in Halifax. The municipal statement says that covered a meal for seven people, including the CAO, the deputy warden and Samson.

At the time, Samson was the minister for economic and rural development.

'It's a small place'

The ombudsman's report also refers to allegations that two councillors were reimbursed $50 plus mileage for attending a partisan political event. If found to be true, the ombudsman stated those officials could be in violation of the Elections Nova Scotia Act.

Samson once again deferred to the municipality for comment on the partisan event, but didn't deny having a close relationship with municipal officials in Richmond County.

"It is a small place. People who are elected and work for our county are people who live in our community. Their families are here. Their children go to our schools," he said.