North Bay motion calls for external review of mayor’s expenses scandal

The motion, moved by North Bay Coun. Tanya Vrebosch and seconded by Coun. Jamie Lowery, says the investigation conducted by the city’s integrity commissioner was too limited.

A motion headed to the Nov. 25 city council meeting in North Bay is calling for an external review of Mayor Peter Chirico’s use of the corporate credit card for personal expenses.

The motion, moved by Coun. Tanya Vrebosch and seconded by Coun. Jamie Lowery says the investigation conducted by the city’s integrity commissioner was too limited.

The motion said Guy Giorno’s report “was narrow in scope, focusing solely on the mayor’s actions as they related to the council code of conduct.”

That report concluded that about $5,500 of the more than $17,000 in personal expenses Chirico paid for using the corporate credit card violated the code of conduct.

Giorno said an option would be that Chirico’s pay be suspended for 60 days, which was approved by city council.

But the Nov. 25 motion said a broader review is needed because “there were a number of actions and decisions taken by various parties during this incident that were outside the specific scope of the integrity commissioner’s review.”

“The residents of the City of North Bay expect full transparency and accountability from their elected officials and administration,” the motion said.

“It is in the public interest to review the broader circumstances surrounding the matter to ensure that policies, procedures, and practices are appropriate, and that similar issues do not arise in the future.”

It calls for a “third-party external review be commissioned to examine the actions taken by all parties involved in relation to this matter.”

The purpose would be to “promote transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in the city’s governance practices.”

Read the full motion here.