September 30 2005: THE TORONTO SUN

What Ethics?

                                                   By SUE-ANN LEVY

In Justice Denise Bellamy's $18-million report on the MFP computer leasing scandal -- lauded by Mayor David Miller yesterday as the new doctrine of council ethical behaviour -- recommendation No. 30 is most specific.

It says "elected officials and staff should take all necessary steps to avoid preferential treatment or the appearance of preferential treatment for friends or family."

Mere moments after Miller pontificated to council how "critically important" it is to take the report's recommendations "seriously and to heart," his right-hand man Joe Pantalone was downright dismissive and annoyed at being questioned about his possible links to the latest City Hall hiring scandal.

Senior city employees Pam Coburn, executive dreictor of municipal licensing and standards (MLS) and Joe Carnevale, Coburn's director of investigations, were suspended with pay last Monday. A review is now being conducted by the city's auditor-general of allegations the two were hiring friends and politicians' family members without competition for the jobs.

Coburn couldn't be reached for comment but Carnevale, former chair of the Metro Catholic school board, told me he does have something to say and is "looking forward to saying it" when the time is appropriate.

According to published reports and a confidential letter to CAO Shirley Hoy and Griffiths, obtained by the Sun, three members of Pantalone's family have recently obtained jobs or promotions at MLS.

But when confronted about the allegations yesterday, the deputy mayor and the mayor's key power broker (he decides which councillors get positions on agencies and boards) called them "cheap journalism." He said his name was "improperly dragged into the matter" and the issue was "blown out of all proportion."

When it was suggested that the ties raise eyebrows -- especially on the day the mayor spoke about being "outraged" by the MFP scandal -- Pantalone said his relatives were hired in a proper process (competition). He did not recall whether he gave references for any of them, but said he would check his records.

And he said he saw no reason to step aside as deputy mayor pending the auditor-general's investigation. "There's nothing improper so why should I? When this is done, people will say what the heck did you put that honest poor guy through that for?"

Miller -- who mere hours before told council the city is well on its way to being "open and transparent" -- unequivocally stood up for Pantalone.

He stressed that "no member of council" is under investigation for any improprieties. "There's no reason for the deputy mayor to step aside," he added.

The mayor even said it's not "inappropriate" for councillors to give references for relatives seeking city jobs if the proper hiring process is followed.

I think he's wrong, wrong, wrong.

Perhaps Pantalone will be cleared. But if stepping aside is fair game for Coburn and Carnevale, Pantalone should also agree to step down -- if only temporarily -- from his deputy mayor post and other high-profile duties.

How can Miller preach about morality and putting an end to "cronyism" if the rules don't seem to apply to his own inner circle?

As Coun. Case Ootes says, the "whole thing doesn't look very good ... the broom is starting to look faded." I'll say.

Both councillors Mike Del Grande and audit committee chairman Doug Holyday feel that at minimum, Pantalone should go to the city's integrity commissioner to ask his advice. "If the allegations are proven he should step down (as a councillor), added Del Grande.

Del Grande gave an emphatic "no" yesterday when I asked him whether the mayor and his supporters will make good on their promises to clean up the rot at City Hall.

"The game here at City Hall is about power," he said. "It's about influence and how you use that influence."