Des Plaines aldermen want details on expenses

The four pages of expenses billed to Des Plaines' taxpayers on Monday range from a $150 bill at a Des Plaines Italian restaurant to a $625.99 item at the bargain Web site, lowestdeal.com.

But just who exactly at city hall expensed these items and why isn't listed on the latest report aldermen approved Monday night.

First Ward Alderman Patricia Beauvais raised questions about getting more information to flesh out the expenses.

"We have no idea what they're for," Beauvais said of the charges.

Dorothy Wisniewski, acting finance director, said she and City Manager Jason Bajor are working on changes to specify more information on the use of the LaSalle Bank credit cards that are billed to the city.

Recently, the spending has showed up in the financial report that aldermen are asked to approve at their regular city council meetings twice a month.

"It has not come up before. It's something that has been handled internally," said 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith, who chairs the finance committee.

Officials aren't questioning the validity of the expenses, but they do want more information.

Fourth Ward Alderman Jean Higgason said she didn't want to suggest there is any abuse of taxpayers' dollars taking place.

"I'm saying there's a potential," Higgason said.

Mayor Tony Arredia said he expenses items when he travels to downtown Chicago to meet with officials about city business, including his quest to get county money for a plan to add a riverwalk.

Smith said Tuesday he plans to talk more with Wisniewski about getting more details on the expenditures.