The Philadelphia city solicitor has ruled that Free Library Director Elliot Shelkrot must give up a $10,000-a-year retirement contribution that he receives from the privately funded Free Library Foundation in addition to his city salary and pension.
Then-solicitor Stephanie Franklin-Suber ruled in October that the arrangement violates the city charter and city and state ethics codes since Shelkrot has been receiving the pension bonus while he has been awarding contracts to the foundation, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported January 20.
Shelkrot said January 19 that the practice of providing additional aid to the library director dates back at least to the 1950s. He also receives several thousand dollars a year in expense reimbursements and the use of a car, which were not questioned by City Controller Jonathan Saidel, who requested the solicitor’s opinion last July. The foundation will determine whether Shelkrot must return the additional pension funds he has received since becoming director in 1987.
Posted January 24, 2000.