"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Friday 27 September 2013

Every Day I Learn Something New

I learned something  else new this week.

The policy for  employee expenses includes playing  golf if it's in the  nature of networking.

Apparently  an employee can take the time off work AND  have expenses paid . Alcohol is not "normally " covered.

I  had a problem with my conference expenses. I lost the folder with  the receipts.

I spoke to the Chief Financial Officer about my dilemma.

 He said I should list the  items and submit them to the  Mayor's office  for  approval.

I did  that' listing the  allowable expenses  to the  best of my recollection.

I received  a response   seemingly from the CAO via the Mayor's office.

My expenses would not be paid without receipts.

The  relevant policy was attached for reference

I continued my search for the folder and found it . In a plastic bag  that came with  a Wendy's
apple-pecan salad which had been brought in from the car and thrown into a cupboard to maintain
an appearance of neatness and order in the house.

I was back on Council six years before I attended a  conference. I'm long past going off on solitary expeditions.

When Theresa  came home, she  indicated  she would be happy to come along.

In the last four years, I have been able to follow the clause in the Code of  Ethics , successor to the Code of Conduct, that requires Councillors to use opportunities to continue to learn.











8 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would appear that our PM is losing a parliamentary secretary - whatever that is - because he failed to file all his election expenses. Funny peculiar that such a character could be brought down on small change. A tiny grin is allowable - non ?

Anonymous said...

How does one 'prove ' networking? I have not seen any increase in the size or # of businesses. In fact quite the opposite. Receipts ? Nonsense.

Grace said...

Evelyn - anyone who has travelled for business certainly knows that lost receipts happen to everyone at some time.

Generally there is a reasonable per diem amount permitted in policy, in lieu of having a receipt. Meals are generally set at a reasonable amount such as $8 for breakfast, $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner (no alcohol)or there about. Travel can be set at the most economical mode available at the time of the request etc.

You should speak to staff about this alternative.

No one that travels for a legitimate purpose should be out of pocket for expenses simply because receipts are occasionally lost.

If Aurora's policy does not have this alternative it should be updated. You are not the first and certainly will not be the last person to misplace or lose receipts.

Anonymous said...

Gail Collins NYT
" Congress Cracks Up "

Anonymous said...

Senators get $150 per day on their written ' word. ' No questions asked. Surely Aurora could manage to cobble something together.

Anonymous said...

What would some of you say if a councillor you didn't like submitted expenses without receipts?

Anonymous said...

If it was a one off event... Nothing! And lets get this clear. Councillor Buck wasn't submitting an expense for a lunch or dinner in around town. It was a conference! A conference that everyone knew she attended.

Grace said...

To Anonymous 29 September 2013 08:22
My comments would have been exactly the same no matter who it was.