CBRM not ruling out calling RCMP over former mayor's credit card expenses

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke is not ruling out calling in the RCMP after an investigation found the former mayor had rung up $17,000 in personal charges on a corporate credit card.

"That is the prerogative of council if it wishes to send it for further review from a policing agency," he said Tuesday.

Clarke said a special meeting will be called within the next week or so to deal with a number of matters, including a report on former mayor Amanda McDougall's personal use of a municipal credit card.

In December, council asked Sydney, N.S., lawyer Robert Sampson to look into irregularities with the former mayor's credit card expenses.

He hired local accountant John MacNeil and together, they went through credit card bills going back more than 18 months.

Last month, Sampson told council McDougall had used a municipal credit card designated for travel to pay for things like personal travel, meals and Uber rides.

Against credit card policies

She also made several expensive Costco purchases, spent nearly $700 at Home Depot on personal items and charged $2,000 for a trip to a dentist in downtown Sydney.

Corporate cards are not to be used for personal expenses, according to CBRM policies and the credit card authorization form council members and staff have to sign.

McDougall paid the money back, saying she had made administrative mistakes, and CBRM subsequently tightened up its expense policies.

Last week, the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs said in an email that it was satisfied with CBRM's actions.

On Tuesday, Clarke said council was advised by the province to conduct an independent investigation before calling in the police.

"It had to be not jumping to assumptions, but making sure that we did everything appropriately and thoughtfully," he said.

Coun. Gordon MacDonald told CBC Radio's Mainstreet Cape Breton that the public won't stop talking about the issue and many are calling for jail time or worse.

"The ripple effect of this means the public opinion right now is saying, 'Oh, there's not a politician that's trustworthy,'" said MacDonald.

Just following process

Clarke said the public needs to know that CBRM was just following the process outlined by the province and that it is not over yet.

"This is a very serious matter," he said. "It's been taken very seriously and the questions of the public will come forward in the course of time.

"It's for council to move on next, so the process has not stopped."

Council can decide to accept the report and end the process, or it can refer the matter to the RCMP, Clarke said.

Third-party objectivity required

Cape Breton Regional Police have said they were never asked to investigate and Clarke said if any police are involved, it would be the RCMP, not the municipality's own force.

"Third-party objectivity would be required," he said. "I believe when we say due diligence that that would be appropriate, so that it truly is an independent review."

Coun. Steve Gillespie also told Mainstreet Cape Breton the public is angry, but he's not sure yet which way he will vote.

"I'm going to be leaning on senior staff and legal to tell us what is the best approach here," he said.

MORE TOP STORIES