Spending habits questioned

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star - June 26, 2008

Four nights at a Vancouver waterfront hotel – $976. Parking – $140. Meals and mileage – $1,038. Chance to schmooze with senior government officials and possibly gain grants and funding for your hometown – priceless.

That’s the rationale for Coldstream Coun. Glen Taylor, who has been put in the hot seat over his $6,720 in expenses – making him the top spender at Coldstream council. Since expense numbers were approved by council earlier this month, Coldstream resident John Hegler has dug up some additional information and breakdowns on just what his elected officials are spending taxpayer’s money on. Putting Coldstream Coun. Glen Taylor primarily on the spot at Monday’s council meeting, Hegler questioned his $6,720 in expenses for 2007, plus the $3,292 he earned for attending 25 meetings. He used one particular trip on Taylor’s expense list to make his point, the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Vancouver in September. Taylor’s expenses for the trip, including accommodation, registration, parking, per diem and mileage totalled $2,798. “The mayor’s total expenses for the whole year were only $2,500,” said Hegler. While Taylor was questioned on his expenses, Hegler did commend Mayor Gary Corner for keeping his costs minimal. “To me as a taxpayer that’s totally acceptable and fiscally responsible on your part.” Hegler also praised Coun. Doug Dirk for having zero expenses, as he did not attend any conferences.

“Mr. Dirk, you didn’t even buy a package of gum, you had zero expenses. Commendable,” said Hegler. On the other hand, Coun. Mary Malerby was also put on the spot as her expenses for the same UBCM trip actually topped Taylor’s. “Mrs. Malerby stayed in the same hotel, same everything and she charged $386 more. That’s a little strange, she must have stayed in the princess suite,” said Hegler. But in fact, Malerby stayed in the same type of room as the others, nothing fancy or “princess”-like, she said. “I didn’t even have a view, I wasn’t looking at the water,” said Malerby of her room which overlooked a nearby Tim Hortons. The reason for her extra expenses is due to the fact that she spent an extra night in Vancouver. Although she stayed at her daughter’s house, thinking she was saving the district money, the hotel room was booked in advance and the hotel would not refund Coldstream. Still, Hegler is convinced that some councillors are spending too freely with taxpayer’s dollars. “All this money that these taxpayers are paying goes into a great big pot...and people like Taylor and Malerby keep dipping into this pot.” It’s not just the expenses, it’s the conferences and workshops in general that Hegler disagrees with. “I’ve been to conference after conference and I can assure you that the value is very limited,” he said, adding that councillors like Jim Garlick and Bill Firman are doing a great job despite not attending all the conferences. “I encourage you to take a look at your expenses and who you send to conferences.” Taylor defends the need to attend such events as UBCM, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Southern Interior Local Government Association. “I agree sometimes you don’t get much out of some workshops but sometimes you do and you can bring it back and share it with your council,” said Taylor, adding that the number of councillors allowed to go to conferences has been scaled back in the past from all seven to three.