Council agrees to an audit committee
At least two councillors questioned the need for it, but Guelph-Eramosa council has agreed to establish a “compliance audit committee” to investigate any complaints tied to municipal election campaign spending.
Recent amendments to the Municipal Act require all municipalities to appoint a committee to handle requests for compliance audits of a candidate’s finances.
As Clerk Meaghen Reid explained, the committee must be formed by Oct. 1, and be composed of three to seven members.
Reid’s research showed the pay for committee members ranges from $100 to $400 per meeting (plus mileage), depending on the number of members and size of the municipality.
In order to attract a “professional and specialized membership,” Reid recommended a $250 per diem for three Guelph-Eramosa committee members. Councillor Reta Moyer initially wondered if that is too high, but councillors eventually agreed $250 is reasonable.
Council unanimously approved a resolution directing staff to recruit three members for the “election compliance audit committee.”
