Sunbury-York South CAO terminated, still facing charges

The chief administrative officer of a small municipality near Fredericton has been terminated, according to the municipality's acting mayor. 

"Marjorie Turner has left her position with the Rural Community of Sunbury-York South to explore other options," said a brief news release from acting mayor Larry DeLong.

But in an interview, DeLong confirmed that a vote council took last week to terminate an unnamed employee was about Turner. Officials had not confirmed this last week when the vote was first made public. DeLong declined to give any details on the reason for the termination. 

The document containing the news release sent to reporters was titled "Media Release Turner termination."

DeLong is in the position of acting mayor because Mayor David Hayward was suspended for 90 days at a council meeting last week for breaking the code of conduct. 

The latest release about Turner was published on June 23, but the release says it was effective June 18. 

Turner is still facing two court charges under the local governance act. They stem from two instances last winter when Turner called the police on citizens who had come to the municipal office to access public documents they were legally entitled to. 

Turner has pleaded not guilty to the charges and her next court appearance is Aug. 10.

CBC News requested an interview with Turner through her lawyer, but did not get a response. The lawyer's office has previously declined requests to speak with Turner about the charges. 

DeLong said Turner's termination did not have to do with the charges. 

When asked if the CAO position would be filled, DeLong said the municipality's current plan is to move forward with the two existing employees — the treasurer and clerk. 

Expensive hotel, restaurant charges on municipal card

Just as news of Turner's departure was revealed, resident Mac Burns, who was one of the people Turner called police on, received a right to information request he had sent to the municipality, seeking to access expense reports from the municipal bank cards.

The receipts show spending from cards linked to Turner, Hayward and another employee, but Turner has by far the most expenses.

While many of the charges are for routine charges that might be expected when managing a municipal office, there are also large charges at numerous restaurants and hotels in far-flung corners of the province between 2023 and 2024. 

The receipts are from the Royal Bank of Canada, and do not include any descriptions of how — or if — each charge is related to municipal government. 

There's a $200 charge at Chateau Moncton and a $604 charge at Morel Executive Suites in Edmundston.

There are also charges for more upscale hotels. Turner has an $824 charge at Hotel Shediac, which describes itself on its website as a "full-service, upscale retreat perfect for relaxation, romance, and rejuvenation in the heart of the lobster capital of the world."

That same trip saw an $80 charge for Le Bistro Shediac.

In September 2024, Turner expensed a $1,008 stay at the Algonquin Resort in Saint Andrews. On that same trip, Turner expensed a $22 bill at the liquor store in Saint Andrews and $95 at the Salt Bight Restaurant and Bar. 

But beyond the lavish hotel stays, there were many charges from restaurants both near and far from the municipality she oversaw.

They include $195 at Jane's Seven Burgers in Oromocto, $136 at Eastside Mario's in Moncton, $199 at Simon's Kitchen and Bakery in New Maryland, $45 at the Lunar Rogue Pub in Fredericton, $93 at the Pizza Delight in Oromocto, and $98 at the Blue Canoe restaurant at the Fredericton Big Stop. 

There were also some charges with less explanation, such as a $345 bill at Trites Flower Shop in Fredericton and a $110 bill for DoorDash. 

Over the course of the two years covered by the receipts, Turner also used the card for 43 separate Amazon transactions, totalling $9,768. The receipts do not specify what exactly was purchased on any of those transactions.

But Turner also shopped local. Over those two years, she spent a total of $1,262 at Staples, $1,152 at Covey Basics, $3,135 at Ikea, $678 at Costco and $208 at Canadian Tire. None of those receipts are itemized.

Council now reviewing receipts, spending policy

When asked if the receipts had anything to do with Turner's termination, DeLong said council has struck a finance and internal audit committee, "and we are now reviewing those receipts, all of those receipts to, I guess, determine the appropriateness of ... some of those items."

Before he was suspended, Hayward had previously told CBC News in May that there was no spending policy in place, so Turner had not broken any rules.

DeLong said council has a local governance committee, which is in the process of reviewing all bylaws, procedures and policies, including a spending policy for staff.

"The residents who brought those concerns [about Turner] forward, I would say that we are putting in procedures and policies to prevent those, and I think that we are going to be able to move forward in a positive direction," DeLong said.