A majority of Blind River council wants to be able to review invoices coming to the town.
In a 4-3 vote, council defeated a recommendation from its treasurer Sue Dent to allow invoices to be handled by administrative staff rather than have councillors decide on how they should be handled.
Her recommendation to council at its meeting Monday evening stated, “That council recognize that they have delegated their authority to management and allow management to operate within their approved budgets and not insist on reviewing accounts payable invoices.”
Invoices are generally approved by department heads and the town’s finance committee for payment.
The issue of council reviewing invoices was first raised by Councillor Clifford Spratt who opposed the invoices not coming to council for review. The issue was again raised at the previous council meeting and deferred pending the report from the treasurer which was presented Monday evening.
However, there was some confusion on whether council was voting only on the treasurer’s recommendation or on Coun. Spratt’s previous concerns on allowing council to review invoices.
“Right now, we’re voting on the fact we don’t want to see the invoices,” Coun. Paula Summers said of the motion before council.
“I have the highest respect and confidence in the abilities of our administration,” Coun. Jim Dunbar said.
“By no means do I challenge this authority,” he added, referring to the changes in council’s procedural bylaw that removed the need to submit invoices to council which he originally voted for. “I didn’t realize that the bills would be removed… for perusal at the time. As it was explained in the report, I’m OK with that. I don’t necessarily agree with that. This information it helped me with the knowledge, it helped me in actually performing my duties as a councillor as having an idea of what was going on.”
The councillor said any invoices he questioned, he would bring up with the finance committee and not discuss it in open council.
Dent noted in her report that she had spoken to a representative from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs who indicated the practice of councils approving invoices was dropped almost 20 years ago.
“I’ve been here for a little while and I’ve never really looked at these bills,” Coun. HP Roy said. “The bills are part of the everyday workings in the town. As it says in the background, municipal affairs this has not been done for 20 years. It’s a bit archaic. I’m OK with following municipal affairs, so I’m OK with not seeing the bills.”
“The only reason I like to look at the bills is because it gives me some direction about how things are going, how much money we’re spending. It should be continued. I like to read them, it takes a long time, but you glean something in them every time,” Coun. Spratt said.
Coun. Betty Ann Dunbar said she wasn’t interested in council approving payment of invoices but felt councillors should see the invoices.
“It is archaic for us approving the bills. It’s just information,” Coun. Steve Wells said.
He said councillors “still get to see the reading file…with regards to the projects going on (and costs).
Coun. Wells said at the library board members receive the bills at their monthly meetings as a matter of being informed. He agreed that council approving bills would be archaic.
“It’s just a matter of information,” he said of being able to review invoices. “So that people who elected us are conscious of us doing our job (fiscally).”
In a recorded vote, councillors Jim Dunbar, Betty Ann Dunbar, Wells and Spratt defeated the recommendation. Councillors Summers and Roy voted in favour along with Mayor Sally Hagman.