Vaughan Coun. Linda Jackson still owes city legal costs from nearly decade-old court ruling

Richard Lorello says Jackson’s costs, which might be as much as $80,000, date back to 2009 when she was mayor

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 6, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

A concerned citizen is baffled as to why the City of Vaughan hasn't collected tens of thousands of dollars owed to it by Regional Coun. Linda Jackson, as a result of legal battles from nearly a decade ago when she was mayor.

Richard Lorello, a longtime city hall critic who ran against Jackson for a regional council seat in the 2018, questioned the city about these costs related to two court rulings, which he sees as "preferential treatment," during a Jan. 21 public meeting to discuss the 2019 budget.

“When residents don’t pay or are late in paying in their bills to the city, the city pursues those bills and actually applies interests as a penalty for not paying on time. So, I am expecting the city having to apply the same policy," Lorello said.

He initially asked if Jackson paid the city's legal costs, which totalled approximately $113,000, as she was ordered to following two court rulings, according to a 2011 York Region Media Group story.

“It (the court-order) goes back to 2009, it has been outstanding for a while,” he said.

Lorello said he uncovered some details about the "money owing" after speaking with Jackson “directly” while she was campaigning in October.

“I asked her what happened. I understood the total amount to be $130,000, but she corrected me, saying it was $80,000 she owed,” he added, noting different figures are being reported about the amount of the loan.

Jackson served as Vaughan’s mayor from 2006 to 2010 and her tenure witnessed some intense legal battles, including questions about her campaign finances.

Lorello also received a statement from the city Feb. 4 confirming that Jackson has "entered into a repayment or a loan agreement with the city."

“Regional Councillor Jackson met with City staff in January 2019 to discuss repayment of outstanding funds to the City,” the statement said in its response to Lorello.

“There are arrangements in place for the city to receive payments on the outstanding debt,” it added without clarifying the amount of the borrowed money.

Citing the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, “the city is unable to provide further information regarding the status of Regional Councillor Jackson’s payments,” the statement added.

Detailed questions from York Region Media Group Feb. 5 about the exact amount Jackson owes, the payment plan and how long the debt has gone unpaid met with a similar response from the city.

Jackson has yet to respond to repeated requests by email and by phone to answer questions about the money she owes the city.

Lorello. himself, is no stranger to having to pay court costs after losing a legal fight.

In 2010, he sounded that alarm that he may have to file for bankruptcy if former councillor Peter Meffe didn’t accept his offer to pay $45,000 of the $118,318 a judge ordered him to pay the elected official following their legal battle.

Lorello brought Meffe to court over alleged conflict of interest violations involving votes he made as a councillor, while receiving payments from his former company, Gridd Electric Services Inc.

Meffe won the case and, in so doing, was awarded significant court costs.