San Fernando Valley : Mayor Repays Airport Panel

Pasadena Mayor William Paparian has repaid $3,695 to the Burbank Airport Authority that he had claimed and collected as reimbursement for his wife’s travel expenses.

Paparian’s actions follow disclosures of free spending by the Airport Authority, of which Paparian is a member, such as extensive first-class travel and routine billing to taxpayers for spousal travel and expenses.

Paparian, an airport commissioner, also dropped a $100,000 claim for defamation against Burbank Councilman Ted McConkey, whose complaints about free spending by Airport Authority members lead to a county investigation of airport spending practices.

“My wife and I thought this was appropriate,” Paparian said. “We don’t want to be involved in anything that has the appearance of not being appropriate.”

Airport commissioners were reimbursed for expenses with airport funds, according to records given to the Los Angeles County Grand Jury. The matter is now under investigation by a grand jury.

Efrem Grail, the deputy district attorney investigating the airport, said Paparian’s action will not affect the investigation.

“It is a political matter, and we will not let a political matter influence a criminal investigation,” Grail said. “But under the law, restitution should have no effect on whether criminal charges are brought.”