A Halifax council committee has urged the development of a plan to enhance financial transparency in the mayor’s office and across the municipality following an audit that flagged $111,000 in mayoral expenses by Andy Fillmore. The finance committee voted to task the chief administrative officer with implementing corrective actions in response to the audit findings, which identified four transactions in Fillmore’s office that did not align with municipal policies.

The audit’s findings led the regional auditor general to escalate the issue to the RCMP. Fillmore refrained from participating in the committee’s deliberations, citing potential conflicts of interest. Notably, the approved motion, with input from the mayor, expanded the plan’s focus beyond his office to encompass the entire municipality.

In a statement, Fillmore acknowledged the auditor general’s conclusions and emphasized the importance of comprehensive accountability measures to rectify past shortcomings and prevent future lapses. The mayor expressed satisfaction with the collaborative effort to fortify accountability standards for taxpayers, underscoring his expectation for consistent application throughout the municipality.

The finalized plan is anticipated to be presented to the council within two months. Councilor Sam Austin expressed optimism that the plan would reconsider a previous decision by the municipality’s former chief administrative officer to grant the mayor’s office greater autonomy, which had resulted in operational challenges.

In addressing the mayor’s expenses scrutinized by the audit, Fillmore emphasized enhanced training for himself and his staff on procurement processes. Regarding the contentious transactions, he clarified that they underwent proper approval procedures involving senior officials. The largest expense pertained to hiring a human resources consultant, where the final cost exceeded the initial estimate due to direct negotiations without competitive bidding.

One of the flagged contracts involved hiring a speechwriter without following the standard procurement protocol, while the remaining contracts for legal services were not vetted by the regional government’s solicitor as mandated by procurement rules. Notably, Fillmore personally reimbursed the legal expenses, emphasizing that they were not personal in nature.