Item - 2007.EX15.3

Tracking Status

This item will be considered by Executive Committee on November 26, 2007. It will be considered by City Council on December 11, 2007, subject to the actions of the Executive Committee.

EX15.3 - Councillors Office Expenses - Councillor Ford and Councillor Holyday

Consideration Type:: ACTION

Wards:: All

Origin

(November 8, 2007) Report from the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner

Recommendations

The Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner recommend that:

1. All Members of Council be required to comply with the current Council policy entitled: “Use of Corporate Logo, Donations and Sponsorships and Personal Funds by Members of Council”. The policy requires that:

“the following expenses for Members of Council must be paid for through the Councillor’s global office budgets and not through personal funds:

i. postage and distribution costs;

ii. printing services (newsletter, flyers, business cards);

iii. advertising and promotion and related office expenses; and

iv. photocopying.”

2. All Members of Council be required to comply with the current Council policy which requires that “if office expenditures are paid by Members of Council through the use of personal funds, such expenditures be reported to the City Clerk”.

Summary

City Council requested the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner to �investigate the lack of expenses charged to the Councillors Office Budget of Councillors Holyday and Ford as it relates to the Code of Conduct and the acceptance of gifts benefits as well as goods and services paid through personal funds.�

This review is now complete. The results of the review are as follows:

In the case of Councillor Ford, all expenses relating to the operation of his Council office are paid by him personally. City policy requires that certain specific expenses �must be paid for through the Councillors global budget and not through personal funds.� Consequently, Councillor Ford is not in compliance with Council policy. In addition, Councillor Ford does not report to the City Clerk the extent of the personal funds expended in relation to the operation of his Council office. The non-disclosure is not in compliance with policy. We are not aware of the extent of personal funds expended as no City records exist to verify this amount.

Further, we have been advised by Councillor Ford that no third-party funds have been provided to the Councillor to finance his Council office expenses.

Councillor Holyday charges all Council related expenses to his office budget. We have been advised by Councillor Holyday that no third-party funds have been provided to the Councillor to finance his Council office expenses. Mileage expenses which are paid for personally by Councillor Holyday are not reported to the City Clerk as required by Council policy. We have been advised by Councillor Holyday that these expenses are minimal.

Financial Impact

There are no financial impacts beyond what has already been approved in the current year's budget.

Background Information

(November 8, 2007) Report from the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner - Councillors Office Expenses - Councillor Ford and Councillor Holyday
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-8804.pdf