Auditor asks for probe Dayton transit board

DAYTON (AP) -- Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery asked the Ohio Ethics Commission on Tuesday to review travel practices by officials of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.
Montgomery said a 1991 opinion by the Ethics Commission generally prohibits officials from the personal use of discounted or free frequent-flier airline tickets obtained from work-related travel.
"An allegation came to our attention that employees and/or board members may have accumulated travel award program points for personal use," Craig Morton, chief legal counsel for the auditor's office, wrote in a letter to the commission. "Our presentation of this matter to you does not represent a conclusion that illegal activity occurred."
Montgomery said the RTA recently changed its policy to bar the use of frequent-flier miles for personal benefit.
"It should be noted the past policy, which did not specifically prohibit the use of frequent-flier miles, has now been amended by the RTA," Montgomery said.
"This is the first I've heard of it," RTA spokesman Anthony Whitmore said of Montgomery's request for an ethics commission review. He declined further comment.
The RTA provides bus service throughout Dayton and all of Montgomery County.