BILLS KEPT RINGING UP DESPITE WARNING CITY WORKERS RACK UP $8,000 IN CELL CALLS.

Byline: James Nash Staff Writer

Two Los Angeles sanitation workers who made more than $8,000 in unauthorized calls on their city-issued cell phones were warned in June about the misuse, but continued to use them for personal business for four months until their supervisors recommended they should be fired, city records obtained by the Daily News show.

Even then, the workers weren't fired because top management said they did not have an adequate policy explaining to their employees that it is wrong to use city cell phones for personal business. Now, the Sanitation Department and the union representing 300 workers are in negotiations about giving monthly stipends of up to $75 to each employee instead of a city phone.

City documents obtained under the California Public Records Act identify the two workers who ran up the bills for personal use as D'Wan London and Wylie Menefee. They were allowed to keep their city cell phones between the first warning, on June 18, and late October, when their bosses recommended that they be fired, according to records released last week.

During that time, both London and Menefee continued to use their city- issued phones for personal calls.

In all, London incurred $6,401.51 in cellular phone bills beginning in September 2003 and Menefee $1,877.99 - compared with about $600 for each if they had remained within their plan minutes.

Neither London nor Menefee could be reached for comment last week at their homes or on city-issued phones.

Although their bosses recommended both for termination, they were allowed to resign and be rehired three weeks later under a deal supported by their union, Service Employees International Union Local 347.

Local President Bob Schoonover said that London and Menefee's supervisors failed to instruct them on proper use of the cellular phones. Schoonover also faulted city Bureau of Sanitation managers for not identifying the misuse sooner and taking away the cell phones.

``This whole thing should have never happened,'' he said. ``It's amazing to me that it took so long to take their phones away. Somebody should have been watching this stuff, OK?''

The president of the commission that oversees the Bureau of Sanitation, Valerie Lynne Shaw, and Bureau of Sanitation Director Rita L. Robinson each declined comment.

Earlier, Robinson said her department failed to instruct London and Menefee enough on the proper use of cellular phones.

City Councilman Jack Weiss said the incident highlights the need for city officials to tell employees how to use their municipal cell phones and to crack down on violators.

``The city is supposed to have a policy to prevent these sorts of problems from happening in the first place,'' said Weiss, who has called for a formal report on the incident. ``It's up to the department to uphold the policy and enforce the rules.''

According to Bureau of Sanitation records, London and Menefee began incurring excessive cellular bills in October 2003, shortly after they were hired. Both employees used their city phones both on and off the clock, including nights and weekends, records show.

Neither London nor Menefee signed paperwork acknowledging their acceptance of the city's cellular phone policy, which allows personal calls only in emergencies, according to the records.

Robinson previously said both employees are young and may have been accustomed to using cellular phones as their primary phones.

James Nash, [phone]

james.nash(at)dailynews.com