Senior finance officer with City of Charlottetown resigns, raises questions
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A senior finance official has left his job with the Metropolis of Charlottetown and is questioning a serious monetary assessment that’s happening throughout the company’s administration.
Stephen Wedlock introduced July 6 on his Fb web page that he had resigned as controller at metropolis corridor to take a job as senior finance officer on the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
Amid his departure, Wedlock is elevating considerations over a assessment of town’s funds that was lately introduced by interim chief administrative officer (CAO) Donna Waddell. That assessment is supposed to look into allegations made by former deputy CAOs Scott Messervey, after he was fired in 2019, and Tina Lococo, who was fired in April, about monetary irregularities, adherence to bylaws and potential breaches of provincial regulation.
Regardless of quite a few makes an attempt, SaltWire Community has not been in a position to attain Wedlock for remark.
Nonetheless, in a written statement he provided to CBC News on July 14, Wedlock mentioned important worker turnover in the previous couple of years resulted in a extreme thinning of certified employees throughout the metropolis’s finance division and that the following calls for on his place led to an unsustainable working setting that affected his psychological and bodily well being.
Wedlock added that town shouldn’t be utilizing the identical auditors, from MRSB, that it has previously to look at the books. He mentioned town is taking the fallacious strategy if it really needs to place to relaxation monetary considerations raised by the 2 deputy CAOs, each of whom had been fired by town’s earlier CAO, Peter Kelly.
Metropolis council fired Kelly with out trigger in Might shortly after the media reported on the considerations raised by Messervey and Lococo.
Waddell issued a press release to SaltWire Community on July 14 through which the interim CAO in response to Wedlock’s feedback.
Waddell mentioned town is at present engaged on choosing an unbiased third get together, which might be tasked with managing the assessment, guaranteeing all points and considerations are addressed whereas offering suggestions and an motion plan for implementation.
“They’ll have open entry to any and all materials and knowledge they deem needed and applicable,’’ Waddell mentioned. “As nicely, they are going to have the complete help of metropolis employees and council. Preparations are underway, and we’ll replace the general public on the method within the coming weeks.’’
SaltWire Community additionally sought remark from deputy mayor Jason Coady, who chairs the finance committee, however he didn’t reply to a request for an interview.
Nonetheless, Coun. Terry Bernard who chaired the committee in 2018-19, defends town bringing in MRSB to assist with the assessment.
“Why would they step up and shield town?’’ Bernard mentioned, in reference to solutions the auditors can’t be neutral. “They are not going to do town any favours. They’ve guidelines to observe.’’
