Grist for the Mill... Commitment Unmet.

An ad appeared in the small edition of The Banner earlier this week. It was a page length column message from the St. Kitts woman citing appreciation for every individual who had anything to do with the July 1st Parade.

Except the people who paid for it, the taxpayers. Absent also was the name of the person Council authorised St.Kitts to appoint as her assistant.

The Ad was on the face page to the Town's Notice Board which meant it was an extra cost.

I called Communications Department, who are responsible for placing ads for the town . to determine if we had placed the ad and was it authorized.

Turns out, money was left over in the July 1st Parade budget and St Kitts decided to use some of it to place a Thank You Ad.

There's a problem with that:

A budget was approved for the July 1st Parade. Within it, St Kitts received $2,000 and authority to hire an assistant . It's not clear how that was accomplished.

Council were assured no part of the money would be spent without strict control and authorization every step of the way.

I am an elected Councillor. I have no authority to spend public resources.

Even as Chairman of a Council Committee, I would have no authority to spend money for any purpose, let alone funds surplus to needs in an approved project.

Were I Director of a Town department. I would not have authority to spend funds surplus to needs for an approved project.

When the July 1st Parade budget was struck,without even seeking it, Council were assured no part of the moneys would be expended, except with tight administrative control.

Except....it has ......with St. Kitts as the only authority named from beginning to end.