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Friday, February 21, 2014
SERVING MISSION SINCE 1908
$116K theft from RCMP District employee charged Carol Aun MISSION RECORD
Mission Mayor Ted Adlem will bring back a motion passed on Monday, in which four councillors said they had a lack of confidence in the mayor.
Mayor slams the ‘stupidity of entire’ political issue
Carol Aun
MISSION RECORD
Mayor Ted Adlem will be asking council to revisit a motion expressing a lack of confidence in him, passed by four councillors earlier on Monday night. Introduced by Coun. Jenny Stevens, the motion was supported by Couns. Tony Luck, Jeff Jewell, and Nelson Tilbury, who also said they are disassociating themselves from his actions and
statements, unless there is a prior resolution from council Coun. Dave Hensman, Larry Nundal, and Adlem opposed it. Adlem doesn’t know what the outcome will be when the matter is discussed again, but he wanted to point out “the stupidity of the entire issue. “Clearly it’s a political issue.” A section of the provincial Community Charter allows a mayor to bring any matter
back to the council table for reconsideration within 30 days. The next council meeting is Monday, March 3. In an interview with The Record, Adlem says he is prepared to “go through one more week of this (political) game,” and hopes council can move forward and concentrate on doing district business after that. “I’m hoping I’m not dealing with 10-year-olds, and sooner or later, they will
come to their senses,” he said. Asked to comment on the mayor’s remarks, Jewell said, “I don’t have any doubts we can work past this. We know we have a responsibility to do the people’s business.” All members of Mission council were elected into office in 2011 under the Citizens Responsible for Municipal Government (CRMG) banner. The group remained intact until September 2012 CONTINUED ON 5
Tires for All
A District of Mission employee was charged this week in connection with the disappearance of $116,000 from the Mission RCMP detachment’s exhibit room. The money was discovered missing during a routine January 2013 audit of the main exhibit room, which is a secure area to store items obtained by police, such as found property or evidence to support court cases. “When the audit revealed a discrepancy, we immediately launched an investigation and brought in a team of outside investigators,” said Insp. Richard Konarski, officer in charge of the Mission RCMP. “The allegations are disappointing and, of course, very concerning to us.” Maple Ridge resident, April Smith, 45, was arrested Feb. 15
and charged with theft over $5,000, breach of trust, and public servant refusing to deliver property. “No other municipal employee, regular RCMP member, other support staff or volunteer was implicated in this investigation,” said Konarski. Smith is scheduled to appear in court April. 3. Smith has been an employee with the District of Mission for 15 years and worked as the main exhibit custodian since April 2008. She was assigned to other duties when the investigation began to “reduce exposure,” said Ken Bjorgaard, Mission’s chief administrative officer. She is still a district employee but has been suspended without pay since June 18, 2013. “We will re-evaluate her status as a district employee after April 3,” said Bjorgaard. “We’ll let the court process take its course.”
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