Athabasca County councillor Jack Dowhaluk has been returned to the full scope of his duties following a decision by council made during a public works meeting on March 13.
Last month, a ratepayer discovered that Dowhaluk claimed remuneration and mileage for five meetings in 2013 that, according to the minutes for those meetings, he did not attend.
After the discovery, Dowhaluk apologized and repaid the remuneration and mileage for the five meetings in question — approximately $1,700.
At its regular Feb. 13 meeting, council determined that as a consequence, Dowhaluk would only be allowed to attend regular council meetings and public works meetings until October.
However, the county has since conducted a review of timesheets dating back to 2009, comparing them to minutes of the relevant meetings.
“Council determined that while discrepancies are present, they are inconclusive and of insufficient quantity to warrant further suspension,” the county said in a press release.
Dowhaluk will be paid back the $1,700 he reimbursed the county last month.
Deputy reeve David Yurdiga said the review showed some errors were not Dowhaluk’s.
“We cross-referenced everything, and some errors were administrative,” he explained. “Unfortunately, there were some coding errors and some reporting errors that skewed the whole process.”
Errors included minutes that noted councillor Dowhaluk as absent, but later recorded him as making motions, said Yurdiga. As well, Dowhaluk made errors in recording the type of meeting attended.
For example, said Yurdiga, “He was authorized to go to (a meeting) of the (tourism and economic development) committee, so he marked down TED, when actually he was at another meeting.”
Yurdiga said he was unsure how many discrepancies were discovered in total over the five years’ worth of timesheets and minutes that were reviewed.
The motion to restore all of Dowhaluk’s responsibilities passed with all councillors who were present in favour.
Reeve Doris Splane was absent from the meeting due to a family emergency and said she could not comment on the decision.
When the discrepancies first came to light, Splane had expressed she was disappointed and said that disciplinary measures would be seriously considered.
When asked if more specific information about the discrepancies would be made available to the public, Yurdiga explained that would be a decision of council.
“We haven’t discussed that part yet, but I’m sure there will be more clarification as time goes by,” he said.
The Advocate has submitted a request with the county for the exact dates and types of meetings for which discrepancies were found, as well as the explanation for each.
Dowhaluk said he is happy with the decision and pleased to return to his duties with committees.
“I’m just glad everything is back to normal,” Dowhaluk said. “We’re now just going to continue to work hard and work as a council.”
Yurdiga said the decision was made in a public works meeting instead of the regular county meeting held two days prior because the review of Dowhaluk’s timesheets had not yet been completed on March 11.
According to the county’s policy on public works meetings, “To the greatest extent possible, agenda items shall be kept to those pertaining to the public works functions of the county. Other municipal items should be referred to the next regular county council meeting.”
The next regular county council meeting is March 27 at 9:30 a.m.
