Montreal ex-mayor Applebaum receives $267K in severance

The City of Montreal has confirmed that former mayor Michael Applebaum has receivedmore than $267,000 in severance pay.

Applebaumresignedfrom office after being arrested in June on 14 charges including fraud and conspiracy.

He was selected as mayor by Montreal city council on Nov. 16, 2012, following the resignation of Grald Tremblay amid allegations of corruption.

Applebaum's payout is over $50,000more than his predecessor,who received a total of $216,000 afterholding the mayor's office for more than a decade.

As mayor, Applebaum promised to clean upcorruption at city hall and improve transparency among elected officials.

Quebec'santi-corruption unit, UPAC, saidcharges against Applebaum relate to obtaining permission and political support for two real estate projects in Montreal's Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce borough between 2006 and 2011, during which time he was the borough's mayor.

City spokesman Gonzalo Nunez said the law governing severance payouts does not take into account the reason for the end of time in office, except in the case of death.

He said thepayments were authorized under theprovincial law that governs elected officials.

"Nothing allows us to refuse payment of severance and transition allowances,despite reasons behind his resignation orthe criminal charges against him,"Nunez said.

Municipal party Vision Montral wants to change that.

According to Olivier Lapierre, a spokesman for the party,the law allows the city to define who can receivea significant portion of severance payout

Theonly currentrequirement for transition payis that officials must have served on council for at least24 months before leaving.

Lapierre said Vision Montral has plans to table a motion in August that would force the city to limit who can receive that allowance.

The party is expected release more details aboutits plans on Thursday.