Savannah City Manager speaks out about travel policy allegations

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Savannah's city manager has come under fire over expense reimbursements and spending.

It all started with a newspaper article Sunday morning, and now, Rochelle Small-Toney is firing back.

Missing receipts, extra night hotel stays, golf tournaments and expensive car rentals. How does the city manager explain all of this?

She says, you can't believe everything you read.

However, many taxpayers want to know what is going on at Savannah City Hall.  Council members are getting those angry phone calls wanting answers.

Small-Toney says everything she has done these past two years has been on the up and up. If anything, she admits she needs to keep better track of receipts.

"I thought it was a huge distraction," Small-Toney said of the report. "I was also disappointed there are a number of inaccuracies in that article."

Small-Toney says, despite a newspaper report alleging city policy violations, the public can trust their city manager.

"The reporter has put out some very inaccurate information which I will address at a future time. For example, I do not receive a per diem and a food reimbursement. I think that was a very gross statement that was made," Small-Toney told WTOC.

Among other allegations, Toney's receipt keeping called into question, including missing receipts in some cases.

"I can do a better job of that for sure," she admitted, citing a hectic schedule and busy travel.

The use of a $150 shuttle van to get city council and herself from an Atlanta hotel to a nearby restaurant, only 350 feet away, was also cited for questioning.

"The concierge suggested the shuttle. That's what I went with," Small-Toney said, also explaining poor weather and an unfamiliar city for the expenditure.

Then, there is an extra night stay at a hotel to participate in the National Forum of Black Public Administrators golf tournament, including an extra day rental of an SUV, as referred to in a memo dated May 16, 2012.

"The idea of a city manager not taking advantage of networking possibilities is a bit misleading," Small-Toney told WTOC.

"There are a lot of different things that need to be explained," Alderman Tony Thomas told WTOC.

Thomas says his phone has rung off the hook with questions from taxpayers upset over the article and the possibility of city taxpayer money being used frivolously, while the city has come down hard on other departments for various money related concerns.

Mayor Edna Jackson declined comment, as did other council members.

"There is a lot of interest and council is concerned. Folks are really upset," Thomas said.

"There is a checks and balances," Small-Toney said.

The Finance Department handles her re-disbursements and receipts, which her executive assistant delivers to them after each trip.

"Whatever they say they owe me, or I owe the city, is what I go with," she said. "We are good stewards of city funds and hopefully some of the inaccuracies can be stated and we will go from there."

City council is expected to meet, behind closed doors, Thursday to discuss their concerns over the report and get more information on these travel policy issues from the city manager, who said she is happy to answer for them.

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