Buying Votes At Taxpayer Expense

Sold a bill of goods?
Councillor Rob Ford says: 'It's not an office budget, it's an expense account'
By ZEN RURYK, CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

The councillor who spearheaded an attempt to make fellow council member Rob Ford stop using his own money to buy office supplies has hit up taxpayers for a limo service, hefty restaurant bills and constituency office renovations.

A review of Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti's 2007 office expenses reveals that he paid $660 for a limo service for his New Year's levee.

He dished out $1,286 to host a delegation of business- women from Puebla, Mexico, at restaurants on two consecutive days.

On May 20, those at Mammoliti's table dined on grilled organic salmon, seared scallops, petit beef tenderloin and other menu items offered at the Miller Tavern on Yonge St. The following day, the same delegation was treated to smoked salmon, calamari, steak, spaghetti and other dishes at Prego Della Piazza on Bloor St. E.

While alcohol was consumed during the meals, Mammoliti did not rely on his office budget to pay for the drinks.

His list of expenditures includes $7,995 for carpeting and drywall work at his constituency office, located at Weston Rd. and Sheppard Ave. W. He spent $600 to sponsor a minor hockey team and $1,575 for invitations and brochure printing done to support his 2005 golf tournament.

Ford yesterday argued that office budget expenditures should be subject to an audit by the appropriate city officials.

"They're just abusing taxpayers' money. It's not an office budget, it's an expense account," he insisted.

Each of Toronto's 44 city councillors is provided with an annual office budget of $53,100. As of Sept. 30, Mammoliti had used up $50,499 of this year's total.

While the city billed Ford $1,123 for the use of office space at the taxpayer-owned Etobicoke Civic Centre, the councillor had not submitted any expense claims as of Sept. 30. He also did not file any expenses last year.

City council directed Integrity Commissioner David Mullan and Auditor General Jeff Griffiths to conduct a review of the spending by Ford and fellow penny pincher Councillor Doug Holyday.

The two senior officials determined that Ford violated city policy in 2006 by using his own money to pay certain office expenses and by failing to report personal expenses he incurred.

They also found that Holyday, who filed expenses of $1,471 last year, violated city policy by failing to claim business mileage.

Toronto's influential executive committee -- made up of Mayor David Miller and his hand-picked councillors, including Mammoliti -- this week directed Ford to disclose the source of funding for his council activities. Ford maintains he won't provide city officials with receipts if taxpayers are going to have to shell out to cover them.

BRING SENIORS TO LEVEE

Mammoliti, meanwhile, yesterday defended his expenditures, saying the limo service was used to bring seniors -- some disabled -- to his New Year's levee, which took place at the community centre where his constituency office is located.

As for the 2005 golf tournament claims, Mammoliti said he had work for the event done by the city and the bills didn't come in until this year.

"When you use the in-house service, they bill you sometimes a year or two later," he added.

Mammoliti said he decided to fix up his constituency office after hearing from people during the last election campaign that he was spending too much time downtown and not enough in his ward, located in the northwestern part of Toronto.

"One of the things that we quickly realized was there was a bit of a health and safety issue here," said Mammoliti "People were tripping all over the old carpet. It was horrible."

He added the walls were bare concrete prior to the renovation.

As for the two restaurant meals, Mammoliti said he has always taken an "international interest" while serving as Toronto councillor.

'WE HOST THEM'

"I've done work in China; I've done work in Mexico. I've done work all over the world and this is no different," said Mammoliti. "When people come to town, they often call politicians that they've heard about or know -- and we host them. We don't say 'no.' "

Councillors have a wide latitude when it comes to using their office budget.

For example, Councillor Sandra Bussin bought her executive assistant, David McCully, a blazer and a pair of shoes for $369, following a severe storm on May 17, 2006.

According to a memo in Bussin's file of 2006 expense documents, McCully dropped by homes on Kew Beach Ave. which had fallen prey to storm-related flooding, while going to work at City Hall.

McCully's shoes and blazer were ruined when he observed the damage first-hand, striding through ankle- deep water in basements. His blazer was damaged by drips from pipes and ceilings in the older homes, according to Bussin, who represents the Beach area.

Bussin's memo says she authorized the purchase of the new blazer and shoes to replace the ones that were damaged while McCully performed his duties.