BY WILL JONES

Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

A report on the failed eviction of the Richmond Public Schools administration from City Hall is in the hands of City Council this afternoon with key questions remaining unanswered.

The report, which summarizes a six-month probe by a council committee, says the episode cost taxpayers nearly $1 million and occurred with the city administration violating procurement polices and the budget ordinance.

However, the document details questions that could not be answered with records provided by the administration of Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. Among them are who authorized the payments and planned the eviction.

The committee found it "particularly noteworthy" that no copies of e-mails were received for the period from Sept. 6 through Sept. 21.

The report makes no recommendation on whether City Council should seek additional information or pursue disciplinary or legal action. Council members are to discuss the report this afternoon.

Council President William J. Pantele said he believes the next move should be a response from the Wilder administration.

The attempted eviction last Sept. 21 is about more than whether the city schools administration should continue to occupy the 12th through 17th floors of City Hall. It's become a touchstone on the limits of power extended to the mayor under Richmond's new elected-mayor form of government.

The report identifies at least $974,778 in expenses directly or indirectly related to the eviction, which was halted by Circuit Judge Margaret P. Spencer. The Wilder administration is appealing to the Virginia Supreme Court.

Contact Will Jones at wjones@timesdispatch.com