Richmond City Council almost took action Monday on the results of investigation into the attempted schools' eviction from City Hall in September.

The full report, which included as much information as a council committee could gather on the orchestration and cost of the attempted eviction, was presented to council nearly a month ago. It showed numerous procurement violations; a use of funds that was not authorized; and mounting outside legal fees that are nearing $1 million, among other items. Several unanswered questions still remain, such as who authorized the transfer of funds used in the attempted move.

Last month, the Mayor L. Douglas Wilder administration called the report "total fabrication and poppycock."

Council president Bill Pantele (2nd) told council Monday at its organizational development meeting that he had already drafted a letter to send to Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, asking him to take the necessary action to bring the city's finances back into compliance within 30 days.

But councilman Marty Jewell (5th) questioned why such action was being taken when council members had yet to comment on the report, and called some of the information "questionable." For example, he said the legal fees, part of which sprang from the attempted eviction, were not the same thing.

Councilman Chris Hilbert (3rd), who led the investigative committee, said he'd be happy to answer questions, but didn't think the fact that money was used inappropriately was in dispute.

"I'm not disputing your belief that what was reported was sound, but it's your report," Jewell told Hilbert. 

Pantele reminded Jewell that the report wasn't Hilbert's but rather a compilation of information from the investigatory committee, which included vice president Delores McQuinn (7th), Ellen Robertson (6th) and Kathy Graziano (4th).

McQuinn then suggested that since discussion of the report wasn't on Monday's agenda, that council members discuss and reflect on the report during next Monday's (June 9) informal council meeting, which begins at 3 p.m. in the second-floor council chambers of City Hall.

Pantele concurred.

"We can talk about it and give our thoughts," he said, "and then move on with the city's business."