Independent investigation clears Town of Victoria Park Mayor against claims he fudged logbook to benefit financially

TOWN of Victoria Park Mayor Trevor Vaughan feels he has been cleared by an independent report paid by the council into allegations he incorrectly filled out his mayoral car logbook and benefitted financially.

Independent investigator Peter Burgess looked into claims made by councillor Vince Maxwell earlier this year that Mr Vaughan had made several mistakes in the logbook and had committed fraud.

The report found there was “no evidence that Mayor Vaughan used the Mayoral vehicle for private purposes and failed to record it” and did not benefit financially.

“My first reaction was that I was pleased by the result and that it showed I hadn’t been fraudulently using the logbook,” Mr Vaughan said.

“I felt like I had use it appropriately all along and this confirmed that.

“I feel very good that I’m exonerated but I feel like this could have all been handled in a way better way if myself and the CEO were approached directly.

“The report will be given to the CCC (Corruption and Crime Commission) and the police.”

At the elected members briefing session on March 7, Cr Maxwell questioned the Mayor about several entries into the logbook during 2013.

Cr Maxwell accused the Mayor of receiving financial gain by recording trips such as a 502km roundtrip to Busselton on May 9, 2013 by recording it as an official use and not as a private trip.

Among the travel questioned by Cr Maxwell was a roundtrip from Victoria Park to the Tamala Park Regional Council on April 18, 2013 at the Town of Cambridge.

Mr Vaughan claimed 79km for the trip, however he was listed as an absentee at the meeting.

A similar roundtrip to the regional council meeting at the City of Stirling on August 22 was claimed as a 76km trip, but the Mayor was again listed as an absentee.

In the report, Mr Vaughan said the meeting in Busselton was “to meet with the CEO and Mayor of Busselton to find out more about all the functions they have on and how they bring people to the Town”.

Mr Vaughan’s explanation for his absence from the April 18 meeting was his “sister in law was terminally ill” and he thought he “drove there but for personal reason (sic) could not attend the meeting”.

A similar reason was stated for his absence from the August 22 meeting.

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