Editor, The News:
Re: Councillors at odds over gala ticket (The News, Jan. 24).
As a taxpayer and a voter in Maple Ridge, I am appalled at the spinning of an issue that could have been, and should have been a very minor in-house matter.
But, hey, there is an election coming up and possibly some fat old grudges that need feeding.
It seems a strange coincidence that the tale that has been spun about perceived overspending of an expense account by Coun. Corisa Bell has been spun by none other than Coun. Cheryl Ashlie and Mayor Ernie Daykin.
It was mere months ago that these two and others were stamping their feet and threatening Coun. Bell with lawyers over her questioning the budget. How dare she.
More curious still is that they have both been at this game so long and they both know well the parameters of the expensing for networking in Maple Ridge.
Yet neither of them volunteered to mention that the limit is $15,000 over a three-year period – averaging, but not limited to $5,000 annually.
Furthermore, any expensing proposed by a member of council must first be approved by the mayor.
So it would appear that the captain of this ship had no problem with the amount of, or the details of Coun. Bell’s expenses as they crossed his desk.
So I wish the mayor would tell us why, when Coun. Ashlie made a fuss over Coun. Bell’s expenses did not Mr. Daykin speak up and say, ‘Hey, Cheryl, old chum, you and I both know the parameters of our expense account, and you also know, it’s my job to vet any proposed expensing. So the buck stops here, and, as captain of this ship I will answer for said expense claims.’
But, no, that’s not how it was played.
Perhaps now the unraveling of the rivals can proceed.
Oh, what a tangled web we did receive.
Grant Baker
Maple Ridge
Hey, mayor
Editor, The News:
Re: Councillors at odds over gala ticket (The News, Jan. 24).
Coun. Corisa Bell has once again opened a Pandora’s Box at municipal hall.
My guess is that 90 per cent or more of Maple Ridge people were not aware that in 2009, council, which Cheryl Ashlie was part of, put the rules together and passed through council for council expenses, which included buying tickets to go to non-profit fundraisers.
They also allow a councillor to spend up $15,000 over their three-year terms on council, to participate at functions and conferences that they feel is necessary to perform their jobs.
Coun. Bell, to my understanding, has not exceeded this amount to date.
And now we find Coun. Ashlie mainly goes to functions to party.
Mayor Ernie Daykin is the person who oversees expenditures at municipal hall. I wonder why he would authorize an expenditure that is not with in the structure of expense rules.
As a person who oversees expenses for people in a work place, I can assure you that if I didn’t question an irregular expense, I would have not been doing my job.
And where is the accounting department?
I can see why some of the old gang at municipal hall is consistently attacking her.
I am very disturbed to find out that my tax dollars are being spent for councillors to attend non-profit functions.
I would hope the upcoming meeting Coun. Ashlie is so energetic to have now that she is stepping down as councillor, that council will stop the nonsense of wasting tax dollars to go partying at such functions.
Wilf McIntyre
Maple Ridge