Antonovich calls on MTA to review Gold Line expenditures

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich today called for a review of expenditures made by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority -- the latest volley after three high-profile officials, including South Pasadena Councilman Michael Cacciotti, left the authority board earlier this year following conflict-of-interest accusations.

The motion to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- co-authored by fellow board directors Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian and county Supervisor Don Knabe -- also calls for an independent review of the Exposition Metro Line Construction and Alameda Corridor-East Construction authorities.

The motion calls for:

-- A review of the full staffing plan for each authority, including in-house employees, contract

employees and consultants, with salaries for each employee

-- The review of each chief executive’s contract, including deferred compensation, incentives, and benefits

-- A review of each authority’s policies regarding expenditures, including travel, training, per diems and other expenses

Antonovich’s motion comes after earlier this year, Cacciotti and Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, two alternates, and Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes resigned from the Metro Gold Line construction authority earlier this year after a conflict-of-interest complaint was filed with the state attorney general.

Christopher Sutton, an attorney representing a San Gabriel Valley property owner in a condemnation case involving the Gold Line, filed the complaint this summer. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sutton alleged that board members violated a state law designed to prevent public officials from serving on other governing boards with competing interests.

An MTA representative said those issues have since been resolved and are not related to the latest proposed action.

-- Jason Wells, Times Community News

Twitter: @JasonBretWells