The Slidell Council postponed voting on an ordinance that would establish a policy on car allowances for city-owned and private vehicles, because they discovered there is no set policy, and money given out for car maintenance and fuel has been a “gentleman’s agreement.”

That revelation came after about 30 minutes of debate between the council and Mayor Ben Morris over an ordinance that states any employee that receives a car allowance, set at $550 a month, has to use that money for gas and maintenance. The ordinance also states that anyone who gets a car allowance and uses their personal vehicle is allowed to charge for mileage at 55 cents per mile if they take a trip that is in excess of 50 miles from the city.

Councilman at large Landon Cusimano, who introduced the ordinance, said he wanted to make sure that only city-owned vehicles were using city facilities for fuel and maintenance. The car allowance would only pertain to the few personal cars used on city business such as the mayor and chief of police. “If you are an elected official you cannot get a fill up or maintenance at the city’s expense,” said Councilman Lionel Hicks. “You can only use the $550 car allowance.”

Mayor Ben Morris said that he has recently lowered the $550 to $500 allowance because of the price of fuel, but that he has never gotten his personal car fixed by city employees nor filled up at the city gas pump.

“It’s never happened on my watch,” Morris said.

Councilman Warren Crockett said the allowance was not a good deal, because the car owner also had to buy insurance, pay for maintenance and fuel.

“I don’t think it is a fair way to go,” Crockett said.

However, Police Chief Freddy Drennan told the council that there was no actual policy on the books for the car allowance or mileage of personal or city-owned cars.

“When I was elected, I was just told I would get $550 a month, for one tank of gas a week, and an oil change when needed,” Drennan told the council. Finance Director Sharon Howes said it has been an unofficial policy since 1997.

Cusimano said he would be willing to postpone the vote.

“After talking to the chief, I find out there is no written policy. I want to clarify the policy. Come July 1, a lot of department heads will be taking the car allowance,” he said.

Councilman James Devereux said the council should come up with a policy on car allowance or face the consequences of “our sister city to the West,” a veiled reference to Mandeville.

“If it is unwritten, then it really isn’t a policy,” Devereux said.

The council unanimously voted to postpone the decistion until they could come up with a written policy on the use of non-city vehicles for city business.

In other business, the council also postponed a vote on an ordinance that would put a cap of 55 percent on recurring revenues that are used to pay salaries and benefits.

The council also approved a second supplemental budget for 2009 and agreed the St. Tammany News would continue to be the official journal for the city.