Rancho P.V. Tightens Travel Reimbursement

Rancho Palos Verdes City Council members wrangled about ethics for nearly two hours this week, finally voting to eliminate per diem for travel expenses and to curtail use of city credit cards.

The acrimonious discussion began after Councilman Douglas Hinchliffe accused Councilman Robert Ryan of “double dipping” at a December, 1987, National League of Cities Conference in Las Vegas. Hinchliffe said Ryan claimed the daily meal allowance and also put meals on his hotel bill, for which he was reimbursed. Ryan said the extra charges related to meetings with officials from other cities and that he routinely spends money on city trips without asking for reimbursement.

Ryan, in turn, criticized several city officials, saying they had accepted meals and golfing expenses from Charles Abbott, whose company provides the city with public works and building and safety services under contract. Ryan said the officials do not have an “arm’s length” relationship with Abbott, but Abbott called the criticism a “reckless and irresponsible attack” on his company’s reputation.

Ryan, who was secretly married to City Clerk Jo Purcell at the League of Cities conference, has been publicly criticized by his colleagues for concealing the marriage and for openly quarreling with Environmental Services Director Robert Benard.

Before the meeting wound to a close at 3 a.m. Tuesday, the council voted to eliminate per diem. Instead, council members will be reimbursed for actual expenses. The council also curtailed use of a city credit card, except for travel and hotel expenses.

Earlier in the meeting, the council voted 3-2 to approve in concept the controversial proposed Marriott Corp. retirement complex on 34 acres along Crestridge Road above the Peninsula Center. Another vote on a series of conditions attached to the development will be taken Tuesday. The project includes 250 independent living units and a 100-bed health care facility for people needing assistance or nursing care. It drew strong opposition from neighbors, who said it will be too large.