HRM Councillors calling for Anstey ousting
Posted Mar 17, 2011 11:30:13 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City Hall has called an impromptu in-camera meeting to discuss a personnel matter just as some councillors are looking to oust the man at the centre of Halifax Regional Municipality’s concert spending scandal.
The municipality’s Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Wayne Anstey, announced Wednesday he will retire in June.
In light of his admitted role in propping up a now-defunct concert promotion company, Coun. Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm-South End) says he should not stay on another three months.
“Mr. Anstey has already done the honourable thing. I think he should take it one step further,” Uteck told News 95.7 Thursday. “I personally don’t want to go to council on Tuesday with a full compliment, with people who are being accused of something.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, councillors were told how Anstey made an unauthorized transfer of $400,000 from the Metro Centre to Power Promotional Events prior to the Black Eyed Peas and Country Rockfest concerts on the Common last summer.
Anstey explained how concert promoter Harold MacKay had threatened to cancel the concerts if the city did not invest more money.
“Sure, Anstey thought what he did was with the best of intensions,” said Uteck. “But if he were any other employee in HRM they wouldn’t be afforded the same courtesy being afforded Mr. Anstey.”
Coun. Tim Outhit (Bedford) explains, Anstey has announced his retirement for June, but it has not been discussed or accepted by council.
