Tory candidate allegedly used taxpayer-funded BIZ to do campaign work

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This article was published 11/03/2016 (3686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Progressive Conservative candidate is under fire for allegedly directing her campaign from her office at the Old St. Vital BIZ and employing the provincially funded Green Team last year to beautify her residence.

Colleen Mayer, the Progressive Conservative candidate in St. Vital and a trustee for the Louis Riel School Division, is the subject of a complaint to Manitoba’s elections commissioner. 

The complainant, a former intern at the BIZ, said Mayer was frequently on the phone with her campaign team, held regular meetings with her campaign manager and even conducted fundraising activities, such as a ham and turkey drive, on St. Mary’s Road at the BIZ office, where she served as executive director,. 

“If you break it down, she was doing it on BIZ hours, using a BIZ phone, BIZ computer,” Elizabeth Dickson, 28, said. “It is a great spot. She had parking, she had the ability to use a boardroom, coffee. She had all the things you would want to have to work on a campaign.”

The yardwork and the planting of flowers at Mayer’s Elm Park Road residence last June caused the provincial Children and Youth Opportunities Department to tighten criteria governing community-beautification projects, an official told the Free Press. 

Last year, the Old St. Vital Business Improvement Zone successfully obtained a provincial grant for a beautification project. The intent was to use Green Team summer students to spruce up public spaces.

However, community whistleblowers became concerned when they witnessed Green Team workers on Mayer’s property on three separate occasions, the last of which, they allege, took place between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. one day last June. The whistleblowers took clandestine photos and shot a brief drive-by video of workers and a BIZ truck parked in front of Mayer’s home.

The residents complained to NDP St. Vital MLA Nancy Allan, who forwarded their concerns to a department that investigated the questionable use of Green Team resources. 

Annette Willborn, Children and Youth Opportunities Department executive director, said staff discussed the complaint with Mayer. 

“We reiterated and clarified the program criteria with them (the BIZ) and made some changes to the program criteria (for) this year,” Willborn said. “We added more stringent and more clear expectations and descriptions about what kind of work is acceptable.” 

Reached Friday while campaigning, Mayer denied she spent significant work time on her campaign, adding her job transcends normal business hours. She said the board was aware she is a political candidate and was supportive. 

She went on leave from the BIZ in late January and opened her campaign office early this month. 

“They were supportive of how I conducted my business at the BIZ — my work versus my campaign duties, and there were no issues,” she said of the BIZ board. “I did the best I could to balance both of the hats I was wearing. And the board was made aware of how I conducted my business as an employee.” 

Mayer wrote off Dickson’s accusations as the allegations of “a disgruntled former employee.” She refused to elaborate, saying she did not want to comment on a “human resource matter.” 

Dickson said she was hired by Mayer to help out with digital marketing in November 2015 through a federally funded YMCA grant. Dickson said she was terminated by Mayer and interim BIZ executive director Dawn Ward in early February after returning to work after a brief illness. Mayer, who was on leave from the BIZ by the time the termination occurred, refused to discuss it Friday. 

Meanwhile, Mayer said she never authorized anybody at the BIZ to use BIZ and government resources to beautify her yard. 

“That is another human resource matter. I didn’t authorize anybody to do that work. When it came to my attention (that work on her property had occurred), it was brought to the board’s attention. It was discussed with a staff member (who has since allegedly left the organization) and the board didn’t see a problem,” Mayer said. 

She said the cost of the dirt and bedding plants used in her yard came to “$130 and change,” for which, she said, she reimbursed the organization. She said she was unaware provincially funded Green Team students were involved until informed by the province. She could not confirm or deny an assertion by community whistleblowers that the BIZ did work on three separate occasions at her home. “I don’t recall,” she said Friday. 

The issues swirling around Mayer are expected to come up when the BIZ board meets Thursday. 

Board president Brent Konantz said he was “personally” unaware of PC campaign work being carried out of the Old St. Vital BIZ office, but he’s heard the allegations. He said he wouldn’t approve of partisan political work taking place there. 

As for the use of BIZ and government resources in beautifying Mayer’s yard, Konantz would only say: “I think some very poor decisions were made — is the best way I can sum it up at this time.” 

Konantz said he is concerned about Dickson’s dismissal, adding “I’d like to know why” it happened. He said he’s heard an explanation from Mayer, but he is “not pleased” with how the matter was handled. 

Dickson has hired a lawyer. Konantz would not discuss any negotiations with the former employee, but hinted a settlement was imminent. 

Dickson calls herself a political neophyte who doesn’t belong to a political party. She said one of her first tastes of the partisanship at play in the BIZ office is when she retweeted a photo on the BIZ account of area Coun. Brian Mayes, a member of the BIZ board and an NDP supporter, with Premier Greg Selinger. 

She said Mayer yelled at her for the action. “My followers don’t want to see Greg Selinger,” Mayer allegedly told her. 

When contacted by the Free Press, Mayes said he wasn’t present at the meeting when the Green Team incident was discussed, but he is concerned by the rumours that have dogged the BIZ. 

According the BIZ’s 2015 budget presented to the city, it was set to receive a $200,000 grant from the city for streetscaping, along with $10,000 for an advertisement reader board and $20,000 for bike racks. The BIZ allocates $156,000 of its $582,000 budget for wages and benefits. Levies from business owners were slated to raise $310,000. 

Mayes said he wants to ensure public money is accounted for. He has spoken to senior people at city hall about his concerns, because he wants to be “damn sure” the money is spent properly. 

PC party spokesman Michael Richards said he does not know if leader Brian Pallister is aware of the allegations, but added the party has been briefed about the situation. He called both allegations an “HR matter” concerning a disgruntled employee. He said the party does not believe Mayer should step down as a candidate. 

Manitoba elections commissioner Bill Bowles did not respond to the Free Press.

 

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca

 

 

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