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New Tecumseth’s deputy mayor motions for transparency on town credit cards

December 11, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

New Tecumseth deputy mayor Stephanie MacLellan made a motion at the New Tecumseth Town Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 1, calling for the mayor and chief administrative officer (CAO) to provide a monthly report detailing all purchases made using their town-issued credit cards – known as P-Cards.

The motion states: “Transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of good governance and essential to maintaining public trust in municipal decision making. The Town has an established Purchasing Card Policy that governs the appropriate use of Town-issued credit cards.”

The motion requests, “That the mayor and chief administrative officer shall provide a monthly report detailing all purchases made using their Town-issued credit cards.”

The requested credit card report should include: date of transaction, vendor name, amount spent, and a brief description of the purchase’s purpose.

Ward 8 Councillor Andrea Jacks, while supporting the motion in principle, said she thought the motion’s focus was too narrow, citing other town administrators who also have town-issued credit cards.

“My issue with this motion, as written, is the specificity of the CAO and the mayor needing to provide that level of transparency, when realizing that many senior staff have access to the same type of purchasing card. For example, our director of financial services and treasurer has a limit that is three times that of the CAO and has not been named as someone who would be required to provide that kind of transparency.”

She also said she has complete faith in the mayor and CAO when it comes to spending, and that asking just the two individuals to produce a spending report suggests there isn’t trust in those positions.

Ward 4 Councillor Alan Masters said he knows the current policies and procedures, and that there are many checks and balances when it comes to spending by any municipal staff. He said he would decline to support the motion.

Ward 6 Councillor Nicole Cox said she supports the motion as it is “About strengthening transparency and ensuring council completes its responsibilities under the municipal act.”

She cited, as a recent example, gala tickets purchased for town staff and their spouses, which indicated a gap in how policy is being applied.

Mayor Richard Norcross responded to the motion. 

“I don’t want people thinking we have a problem with P-Cards at the town, because we don’t,” he said. “We have a very detailed policy that clearly establishes the P-Cards. It’s very stringent with checks and balances, and it’s very thorough. They must be approved by the clerk or the treasurer. In regards to the mayor’s P-Card, my expenses are posted every year.”

The motion was carried by a vote of 5-4. 

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