Wabana meeting draws crowd as calls for forensic audit continue

Tensions inWabanashowno signs of abating, with roughly 100 citizens crowding into a church hall in the Bell Island town Wednesday night to air their concerns about an ongoing dispute on council.

The end result was another call for a forensic audit into the town's finances, and plans to establish a new concerned citizens committee in the coming days, said Coun. David Foley, one of the organizers of the meeting.

"If there's no problems, let's do it," Foley said of his repeated calls for a thorough review of the books.

• Forensic audit sought as furor divides Wabana council

Foley said there was also support expressed for William Peddle, the former part-time tax collector who was fired by the town council during a highly charged and crowdedmeeting on Nov. 25.

"He did a superb job for the town," Foley said of Peddle.

Critics of council to circulate a petition

The meeting lasted for two hours and was closed to the media. It was organized by Foley and another councillor, Ben Warford, as well as WilliamPeddle,Donna King and Gary Jenkins.

Foley said the intent of the meeting was to give citizens who were denied an opportunity to speak during the Nov. 25 council meeting to voice concerns to their elected representatives.

But the other four council members, including Mayor Gary Gosine, did not attend.

"He knew he'd have to answer to the taxpayers of this town," said Foley.

When contacted earlier Wednesday,Gosinetold CBC News he would avoid the meeting on the advice of his lawyer, but stressed that the "true facts" will berevealed soon.

Foley and Warford have been raising questions about activities in the town, including matters relating to financial accountability and alleged favouritism.

Several staff members have also made allegations of harassment against Foley and Warford. They both deny any wrongdoing.

Their calls for a forensic audit stems from a letter this past summer from the town's auditors. The auditor,RogerCoombs, tested 40 receipts, but could not match bank statements to a quarter of them.

Coombs told CBC last monththe findings are not necessarily evidence of fraud, but more likely a result of bank reconciliations not being done on a timely basis.

Foley wants minister to get involved

The Department of Municipal Affairs concluded a review of council's activities last month, andMinister KeithHutchingssaid the report found "nothing significant with regards to the overall operations and administration of the town."

Gosine has vigorously defended himself and the town, and criticized Foley and Warford for "spreading lies."

Foley, meanwhile, is not satisfied with the actions taken by the province, and said a petition calling for an audit will be circulated in the coming days.

He said the large turnout for the meeting is proof that citizens are not satisfied with the answers being provided by town officials, includingGosine.

"I'm calling on the minister to get involved and get this all straightened away," said Foley.

Foley was also critical of David Brazil, the MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island andMinister ofTransportation and Works, saying"we have not received any response to any of our letters to date."

I'm calling on the minister to get involved and get this all straightened away.- David Foley

In a written statement issuedThursday, Brazil saidhe would not be getting involved in theWabana dispute.

"The present conflict within council is unfortunate, but isthe responsibility of council with advice from Municipal Affairs to work towards a solution. The residents have a right to question the actions of their council," he wrote in an email.

Meanwhile, when contacted Thursday, William Peddle refused an interview request, and accused CBC News of biased coverage of the ongoing feud in Wabana.

"I've never seen or heard tell of you asking a tough question to the people on the other side," he said before ending the phone call.