|
Presentation to City Council-18th January 2010 Good evening Mayor Francis & Members of Council You are being asked to approve the completed Audit Report of the 400 CHS Building. I cannot see any reason for you deny that request. I have read it and commend its authors for a truly professional job. Its revelations are alarming. The 400 CHS Building began with a misrepresentation to the general public that it was necessary and would be expense neutral. I can only describe the undertaking as a story of bumbling chaos. It reveals a complete lack of planning, oversight, management and expertise that led to a shocking $5 million overrun of the $27 million that was the original expenditure authorized by Council. You may want to argue about that but that is my conclusion. The most important aspect of this unfortunate debacle is that one city council after another has just ignored their basic responsibilities and wandered far from their mandate. For too many years I have made representations urging the council of the day to remain within its mandate, make a list of real priorities and to refrain from committing tax dollars to risky commercial undertakings. Each time I have been totally ignored. The design/build fiasco of 400CHS emphasizes the wisdom of my advice. None of you are entitled to play business tycoon with taxpayer’s dollars. I want to query the chain of command that exists here in city hall. Part of the horror story contained in the audit report is the fact of a strained relationship between the CAO, the lead auditor and the audit committee. I asked the audit committee if and when did they report the situation to you Mayor Francis. I never received a satisfactory reply. So, I address the same question to you here this evening. When did you become aware that the CAO was being uncooperative with the Auditor and the audit committee and what did you do about it? I also asked another question at an audit committee meeting. Who was responsible for holding eleven boxes of information from the auditors and had they been disciplined. Again, no answer. The delay in producing those documents incurred substantial expense to the taxpayers and has the appearance of malfeasance which my dictionary defines as “Misconduct in an official capacity” This question deals with accountability at all levels and cries out for an answer. In the present desperate economic times members of council are expected to walk hand in hand with their fellow citizens whom they represent. That means we all have to watch every cent and make it count. True diligence. You seem to have learned nothing from the sorry tale revealed in the audit document. So once again, I urge you to compile a list of real priorities, stay within your true mandate and stop using tax dollars in risky commercial enterprises. Leave business, development and major contracting to the private sector. Thank you for my time.
|
