People in Rimbey, Alta., voted in a new mayor and council Monday in light of the release of expense claims that documented thousands of dollars of questionable spending by the previous council.

Mayor Dale Barr lost his job in Monday's vote, along with incumbent councillors Dave Huff, Steve Schrader and Wayne Clark. The fourth member of Rimbey council, Dave Karroll, resigned on Sept. 1 and did not run for re-election because of the backlash over the documents.

Sheldon Ibbotson was elected mayor; Joe Anglin, Gayle Rondeel, Jack Webb, and Paul Payson will join him at the council table.

Ibbotson told CBC News Tuesday his first orders of business are to call for an independent audit of the city's finances and make council more transparent.

"I hope to get all the legally-available information on the website," he said. "I hope to set up an emailing list, so if someone's interested in a budget or the expenses or an agenda package ... they go on that list, and it's emailed out to them."

The documents, outlining nearly four years' worth of expenses, were obtained by Anglin through a Freedom of Information request.

The documents showed Barr and several councillors attended Tory political fundraisers and charged the cost, including mileage, to the town. The mayor and councillors reimbursed the town several thousand dollars after Anglin released the documents.

Ibbotson believes the documents were among a number of issues that prompted Rimbey voters to look for fresh start.