Brampton councillors are insisting a forensic audit of Mayor Susan Fennell’s expenses must be delivered well before the October municipal election.

“The audit needs to be completed ideally by May 30, with a full and detailed report to be presented to council in public not later than June 30,” said Councillor Elaine Moore.

She was responding to a report by Brampton chief administrative officer John Corbett that says the audit could take four months to complete — after an auditor is hired — and then might need further review before it’s made public.

But a city spokesperson told the Star that councillors will be able to amend the timeline and the terms of reference at Wednesday’s council meeting, when the report outlining the planned audit is presented.

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Councillor John Sanderson, who called for the audit, which will include all council expenses, said the public deserves to see the results soon.

“Absolutely, this needs to be made public well before the Oct. 27 election,” he said.

Sanderson was planning to register for the mayor’s race later in the day.

“I called for the audit because the public was demanding it, and I felt our expenses should be investigated so we can put this behind us. We need to start dealing with the business of running our city.”

Fennell has come under fire after freedom of information requests by the media revealed she spent $185,000 on discretionary expenses in less than three years and $186,000 in travel expenses over five years.

Charges to taxpayers included $1,850 airfare for short trips, such as to Ottawa; $700-a-night hotel stays, $1,300 for Mandarin lessons; and $1,500 for tickets to the Brampton orchestra.

Council has since curtailed much of her expense budget and voted unanimously for the forensic audit.

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