City Council Vice President Fielkow asks IG to review New Orleans

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jun 23, 2008 by Reports

City Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow wants New Orleans Inspector General Robert Cerasoli to review the city's expense policy following recent reports of possible misspending.

In a June 16 letter written by Fielkow to Cerasoli, Fielkow requests that Cerasoli's office "formally review the city's existing expense and reimbursement policy for all city employees, and also provide recommendations for formal policy and protocol going forward."

Fielkow's letter follows newspaper stories of the mayor and his staff using city credit cards to pay for meals at upscale New Orleans restaurants.

Cerasoli said this newest request of his office, which continues to ramp up after receiving funding in January, will be placed on a list that continues to swell.

"I'm putting that request on the list. I don't know when I'm going to get to it but when I do I'll make a recommendation of policies that should be in place to the council," Cerasoli said.

"There are so many things like this going on in the city. This is one small thing. ... There are other issues that are much more important."

Cerasoli said the credit card policy existed well before he was appointed IG and it will be up to the city council and the administration to change it.