Auditor complains of Sudbury staff 'cat and mouse game'

Sudbury's auditor general says city staff are still making it difficult for him to do his job.

Brian Bigger presented a report Tuesday to city council and said some municipal staff are taking too long to get back to him or are refusing to respond at all.

He said council needs to enforce the rules to which they agreed when he was hired.

"We've experienced delays in excess of 10 weeks on asking questions," Bigger said. "We need some help."

Councillors expressed support for Bigger's office, but some wondered why he chose to complain at a public meeting when there is already a committee created to help him with this very issue.

Councillor Dave Kilgour said he met with Bigger, along with other councillors, two weeks ago and this report wasn't mentioned.

"I find it disconcerting that that wouldn't have been the top priority at our last meeting," he said.

Bigger said it's his frustration with his current audit that led him to present his report. The current audit looks at advertising revenue in the city's transit department, but Bigger said that audit will now be delayed.

Other councillors voiced their support for Bigger and offered to meet with him, but none said specifically how they would get staff to co-operate in the future.

Bigger said delays in obtaining information from staff have been a recurring problem during his time as auditor general.

"It shouldn't be this cat and mouse game," he said. "We're trying to work with staff."