Council rejects paying Atwell trip to Japan

Former Saanich mayor Richard Atwell’s unauthorized summer visit to Japan might have forged friendships there, but he didn’t impress councillors here, who denied his travel expenses.

Saanich council this week received the former mayor’s report on his trip to Japan in August but chose not to speak to his request for reimbursement for $4,535.99 in travel expenses.

Chief administrative officer Paul Thorkelsson said when Atwell “just kind of announced he was going,” he advised the former mayor that any international travel expenses to represent Saanich should be considered and approved by council.

“He indicated that he wasn’t going to do that and didn’t do that,” Thorkelsson said Wednesday.

“And then he came forward in the end, after the fact, with a request [for reimbursement] and his report on all the activities he undertook in Japan. Council just received it for information and there’s no additional action.”

Atwell maintained the travel was covered under the council remuneration and expenses policy under the provision of the mayor having authority to attend any meeting believed to be in the interests of the municipality, said Thorkelsson, who does not agree with that position.

Councillors Susan Brice and Judy Brownoff also said Atwell was required to seek council support.

Thorkelsson said funds were not established in the 2018 budget for international travel by a council member.

In his written report to council, Atwell recommended establishing a sister-city relationship with Hatsukaichi, a city of about 120,000 in Hiroshima Prefecture.

A delegation from Hatsukaichi toured Saanich with Atwell in April, and the delegation made a presentation to council.

Atwell subsequently received an invitation from Hatsukaichi’s mayor to tour that city.

In June, Atwell advised staff he was arranging travel for that purpose. He took the trip on Aug. 3-6.

Atwell said in his report he told Hatsukaichi’s mayor that a post-election council motion to formalize the relationship would be best.

Still encouraging Saanich to embark on the relationship with Hatsukaichi, Atwell said cultural exchanges, education, opportunities for trade and sport are all part of the sister-city relationship for which he did the groundwork.