Challenger charges Heilman deputy with abusing city credit card

Posted on March 6, 2011, by WeHo News staff, West Hollywood, California

John Heilman, seeking another term as city council member, has come under fire for his deputy's flagrant use of the city credit card for $100 linches with developers and fellow staffers.

A challenger’s last minute charges of city credit card abuse in West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman’s office threaten to derail his 26-year civic career on Tuesday.

Pointing to records dated March–December 2010 showing over $13,000 spent on employee lunches and meals – 19 of which were purchased at the priciest restaurants in West Hollywood by Mayor Heilman’s deputy Fran Solomon – John D’Amico called for an internal city investigation into "scratch my back dollars.”

Records dated March – December 2010 show 19 meals purchased at the priciest restaurants in West Hollywood by Mayor Heilman’s deputy Fran Solomon. Photo by WeHo News

"This is very troubling and sad,” he said. “It would seem that this is another example of the entrenched lack of respect Mayor Heilman has shown for his office and the people of the city.”

John Heilman declined to reply to requests for comment.

The city issued the following statement:

"The City of West Hollywood has in place a written expense reimbursement policy adopted by the City Council that complies with the requirements of Government Code Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 ("AB 1234"). Any expenditure charged on a City of West Hollywood credit card must be in compliance with the policy and in furtherance of a municipal purpose.

All credit card purchases are reviewed by staff in the Finance Department to ensure appropriate documentation and that the purpose of the expenditure was for legitimate City business."

Mr. D’Amico did not question the legality of the expenditures, but stood against the use of public monies to curry favor with developers and commissioners.

John Heilman, seeking another term as city council member, has come under fire for his deputy's (Fran Solomon shown here) flagrant use of the city credit card for $100 linches with developers and fellow staffers.

“He is the person responsible for his employee,” said the challenger for Mr. Heilman’s seat on March 8. “What is clear is that these "scratch my back" dollars should have been spent on services for residents.

"The fact that so much money was spent on fancy lunches and dinners and other gifts indicates a complete lack of caring for the residents. These dollars could have been spent on a year's worth of food or rental assistance for a resident,” he asserted.

Records dated March – December 2010 show 19 meals purchased at the priciest restaurants in West Hollywood by Mayor Heilman’s deputy Fran Solomon. Photo by WeHo News

His campaign began making public information requests regarding Ms. Solomon’s spending habits in Early December after City Hall insiders tipped them (and WeHo News) off to her propensity for high living at the city’s expense.

The results of the requests, made available by the city clerk for review only Thursday and copies of which were obtained Friday, show a pattern of expenditures on expensive meals at SoHo House, a private club, and other swanky West Hollywood hotspots as well as thousands spent on gifts such as Mont Blanc pens.

West Hollywood city council deputies earn over $100,000 per year, and only Ms. Solomon’s name crops up with such regularity, according to the records viewed by WeHo News.

One set of credit card transactions shows another council deputy, John Duran’s deputy Hernan Molina, reimbursing the city for one expensive meal he apparently felt uncomfortable accepting.

Steve Martin, another challenger seeking to regain a seat he lost in 2001, suggested that the District Attorney look into the allegations, saying, “These charges are an outrageous abuse of public funds and Fran Solomon and John Heilman should be forced to repay the taxpayers.

Challenger Scott Schmidt said, “As a resident and a taxpayer in West Hollywood, I expect my public officials–elected and staff–to be good stewards of the public treasure. Unfortunately, the facts in West Hollywood say otherwise under the stewardship of John Heilman.”

This document shows a $96 lunch bill submitted by 26-yr West Hollywood Mayor and candidate for re-election John Heilman’s deputy, Fran Solomon. She entertained one person at Cecconi’s, where iced tea costs $4. Photo by WeHo News. Click here to see full size image

Other charges appearing on the city’s credit card include three separate purchases of nearly $1,877 of Gelson’s gift cards in a single day, ostensibly to reward retirees for their services.

Mr. Martin called that “a gift of public funds. It’s clearly designed to hand them cash without it actually being cash. If it were a gold watch or a Mont Blanc pen, it’s a gift, but a cash card for a grocery store? And how do we know these employees actually received the cards?”

WeHo News asked the city if the gift cards were reported as income.

The city responded with “Finance staff will research and respond to your other questions about the specific expenditures you itemized,” apparently on Monday.

SoHo House pops up time and again; the club asks $1,800 for a membership which gains one access to the facilities.

WeHo News requested details on the city’s financial relationship with SoHo House, making the following inquiries:

Who paid for the membership at SoHo House?

When did the city or that individual become a member?

What membership privileges flow from that membership?

The city replied with “No public funds have been expended for membership in the SoHo House,” leaving an explanation of the precise arrangement between the club and the city murky.

The itemized list of questionable expenditures is below.

January 2010 Billing Cycle

Charge #69: $99.41 for lunch with Steve Afriat on 12/29

Charge #82: $152.82 for lunch for 9 people at Hugos

Charge #83: $197.92 at Cecconi’s

March 2010

Charge #48: $75.00 for lunch for 2 at BOA

Charge #54: $33.47 at Le Petit Bistro by Fran Solomon

Charge #59: $90.83 at Cecconi’s

Charge #60: $50.53 lunch with Richard Weintraub at Basix

Charge #63: $96.22 at Cecconi’s

Charge #64: $53.96 at Cecconi’s

Charge #21: $101 at BOA by Fran Solomon

Charge #24: $91 at Cecconi’s by Fran Solomon

April 2010 Billing Cycle

Charge #66: $109.75 for lunch at Soho House

Charge #67: $195.26 for lunch at Soho House

Charge #68: $142.68 at Soho House

Charge #75: $159.90 at Madeo

Charge #77: $114.58 at Madeo

Charge #78: $98.78 at Soho House

Charge #81: $219.28 at Soho House

Charge #82: $308.40 at Soho House

May 2010 Billing Cycle

Charge #28: $93 at Cecconi’s by Fran Solomon

Charge #32: $50 at Canter’s Deli by Fran Solomon

Charge #44: $52 at Food Lab by Fran Solomon

Charge #46: $131.70 at Soho House

Charge #46: $144.92 at Cecconi’s

Charge #48: $263.40 at Soho House

Charge #49: $74.56 at Cecconi’s

Charge #65: $674.31 at Cecconi’s for Sheriff’s dinner for six

July 2010 Charges

Charge #28: $33 lunch at Bossa Nova for Fran Solomon

Charge #44: $37 lunch at Cafe d’Etoile for Fran Solomon and Dan Berkowitz

Charge #52: $34.92 lunch with Abbe Land

Charge #58: $46.10 at the Andaz hotel

August 2010 Charges

Charge #33: $50.90 lunch at Cecconi’s for Hernan Molina and Trevor Daley, $25 reimbursed to the City by Hernan Molina

Charge #45: $34.03 lunch with Steve Afriat to discuss PDC Development Agreement

Charge #54: $77.97 at Soho House

Charge #58: $100.61 at Soho House

October 2010

Charge #56: $77 for Fran Solomon and Trevor Daley (deputy to Senator Feinstein) to discuss midterm elections and West Hollywood Library

Charge #67: $30.73 for two people at Cecconi’s

Charge #68: $77.81 for two people at BOA

November 2010 Charges

Charge #35: $44 at BOA for Fran Solomon

Charge #44: Approximately $2000 for Mont Blanc pens at $370 each

Charge #48: $92 at the Palm for Fran Solomon

December 2010 Charges

Charge #06: lunch for Fran Solomon and David Coddell at BOA

Charge #15: $796.60 for gift cards at Gelson’s

Charge #16: $796.60 for gift cards at Gelson’s

Charge #17: $266.88 for gift cards at Gelson’s