The final report of the provincial ombudsman into the expense scandal in Richmond County has now been posted online on the provincial government’s website.
Ombudsman Bill Smith’s report says there is a culture of entitlement in Richmond county, where the warden and chief administrative officer expensed tens of thousands of dollars on travel, meals and alcohol with little documentation or oversight.
Smith told the CBC he removed an earlier recommendation for a forensic examination of the books because RCMP and Elections Nova Scotia are doing audits. He is also very encouraged by the response of the newly-elected council in Richmond that it intends to follow up on the recommendations.