Mayor Trotter, with Assist from Vice Mayor Onoda, at Helm While Town Blows Six Figures in Legal Fees

A few of our readers have asked about unauthorized or excessive legal fees the Town spent on the back-room Rheem and Hacienda deals (see links below) along with the total spend on its failed storm drain initiative.

Here's the tally of spending on those items while the town was in an active declared fiscal emergency, according to the town's accounts payable reports:

Rheem Theater (unauthorized negotiations and spending):

$35,881

Hacienda restaurant (violated specific direction from council):

$11,588

Storm Drains:

$72,412 ($52,412 over budget)

---

Links:

Rheem Theater articles: unauthorized legal-fee story and Empty Rheem Lot follow-up

Hacienda articles: Council subcommittee direction, closed-session discussion, and La Finestra outcome