Region expense policy challenged
Whether or not regional councillors will be able to continue to promote themselves using tax dollars is scheduled to come up for debate Thursday evening.
Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn has put forward a motion that would eliminate the ability for councillors to expense so-called “promotional materials,” putting him directly at odds with three councillors — Grimsby’s Tony Quirk, Port Colborne’s David Barrick and Fort Erie’s Sandy Annunziata — who recently sent out campaign-style flyers on the public dime.
Augustyn’s motion says the flyers have “raised concerns in the community” and that promotional materials should relate to the council as a whole. Therefore, the motion says, the section of council’s expense policy that allows individual councillors to claim the costs of promotional materials should be removed.
The mailing of flyers by councillors has become a point of contention at the Region.
At the May 16 corporate services committee meeting, St. Catharines Coun. Brian Heit challenged the flyers, saying they crossed the line when it comes to using regional resources for political purposes.
Regional policies prohibit the use of regional resources for the purpose of political campaigning.
The regional expense policy defines “regional business” as “attendance at an event as a representative of Niagara Region, to derive benefit for Niagara Region or advance the interests of Niagara Region.”
The promotion of individual councillors is not mentioned in the definition.
At the May 16 meeting, Quirk and Annunziata defended the mailings as “updates” on issues for their constituents and as being allowed under the current expense policy.
Quirk’s flyer is about garbage and recycling pickup in Grimsby and his pledge that the Region will ensure a trash collection plan is followed.
Barrick’s flyer — it drew the ire of Port Colborne city council as being unfair — promoted his role as chair of the budget committee and compared regional tax increases to those of the city.
In his flyer, Annunziata thanked voters for “trusting me to bring positive change to the Niagara Region” and presented regional accomplishments.
The total cost of the mailing has not been fully disclosed. Expenses released by the Region show that in the first quarter of 2018, Quirk claimed $2,460 of public funds on flyers, flyer deliveries, newspaper ads and other information and promotional materials.
Expenses for Barrick and Annunziata’s flyers have not been released yet.
Quirk also recently mailed out similar flyers using Niagara Conservation Authority.
In an email to local activist Ed Smith, Quirk said the NPCA flyers cost $848.92 plus HST.
If passed, Augustyn’s motion would eliminate a single subclause in the regional council expense policy. Under the heading of “eligible expenses,” Region policy allows councillors to claim the cost of memorabilia and souvenirs for constituents, office supplies, subscriptions “related to regional business,” GO train tickets, parking and “promotional materials related to regional business.”