Former Mount Pleasant City Manager Edward Daniels Thatcher, 74, testified in his own defense Wednesday at his trial on charges of theft and misappropriation of fiduciary property. He said he had waited three years to explain the matter.
Thatcher said the city council discussed a travel program along with raises. He said council members settled on a dollar amount for the first month even though they had driven thousands of miles since the start of the fiscal year. He said he did not know how some of the forms were filed and that two council members did not want to be part of the program.
Thatcher said several council members received the same mileage reimbursement in later months, which he said was discovered after a public information request and concerns raised by a council member. He said the city secretary, who testified Monday, told him he had instructed her to file the forms. He said all but one council member repaid the city once the payments became public, and that he was no longer involved after the first few months.