8 • THURSDAY April 1, 2021
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
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Board split on Kids hop around Merritt’s parks alcohol expenses From Page 5 objected to this potential loophole, and suggested that if this were the case, the alcoholic purchases should be subtracted from the per diem so that they would be out of the director or staffer’s pocket and not the taxpayers. “Once again, I thought my original motion was clear on this, because it quite clearly stated, I think, that the TNRD will not purchase alcohol for directors, staff, etc. at any event,” Rothenburger reiterated. “It seems to me that this may be interpreted a little bit too narrowly as having to be captured within the Hospitality Policy itself. If that’s not the place to capture that intent, then we should go ahead and approve this one, but maybe if there’s a different policy that staff needs to come back with the rest of it on, then let’s do that. But I think the plan here, that I think everyone has agreed, to is that the TNRD is not buying booze for people.” Director of Area J, Ronaye Elliott, objected to these suggestions quite heatedly. “I kind of wonder if you guys came out of the ark or something, because the per diem that we have, doesn’t say that we have to buy food with it,” said
Elliott. “It’s a per diem for your expenses, and if you choose to go and drink your lunch alcoholically, then there is nothing anybody should say about it. You are on your own, you are not using anything but what is provided for you, and my good lord, we are in the 21st century. We don’t have to have our hands slapped because we had a drink on our own. So, I go along with this policy, but the rest of it is just stupid.” Electoral Area B Director, Stephen Quinn, similarly agreed that the Policy referred to TNRD hosted events. “Are we going to try to forbid us from drinking alcohol at, say, a UBCM function where someone else is hosting it, and hide it somewhere…?” said Quinn. “This is supposed to be specific to us hosting a function where alcohol is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer.” Deanna Campbell agreed with Director Rothenburger, that more work could be done to clarify these points in other policy documents, but that the tabled recommendation regarding the Hospitality Policy only covered events hosted by the TNRD. The recommendation, as it was presented, was carried by the Board.
POLICE FILES
Emma Doncaster was one of the Merritt kids that took part in the City’s ‘Easter Park Hop’ this past week.
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER The City of Merritt hosted an ‘Easter Park Hop’ from Saturday, March 27 to Wednesday March 31. In lieu of a traditional Easter egg hunt, which was not possible due to pandemic restrictions, participants were encouraged to get out in a COVID-safe way and visit some of Merritt’s local
parks. At each of the five parks an Easter themed image was hidden for young sleuths to find. With each image there was an action, which would then be performed and photographed. Participants who scanned all five QR codes while performing the ‘Hop’ would be entered to win one of four prize baskets. The draw for the baskets will take place on April 1.
Merritt woman charged with theft and fraud Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@ MERRITTHERALD.COM An extensive investigation into internal theft by an employee at a Merritt financial institution has resulted in charges being approved by the BC Prosecution Service. According to Merritt Sgt. Josh Roda, in late May of last year, Merritt RCMP received a report
of a suspected internal theft of a large sum of money discovered by staff at said financial institution. The RCMP were told that bank officials had reason to believe that the money had been fraudulently taken by one of its employees over quite an extended period of time. The investigation has since been ongoing, and on March 25, 2021, the BC Prosecution Service approved one count of
theft over $5,000, as well as two counts of fraud over $5,000 by indictment, against a 39-year old Hope Moira Thomas. The financial institution fully cooperated with the criminal investigation. The full investigative findings were then submitted to the BC Prosecution Service for approval of laying the charges.
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