BURWOOD council staff who claim that they did work on an apartment block owned by the council's general manager and its principal architect have lodged a complaint with the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The staff members claim that Pat Romano, the general manager, and his business partner, the council's principal architect, Albert Becerra, used council resources, equipment and staff during the renovation of a block of units owned by the wives of the two senior staff members and the wife of a Canada Bay councillor, Tony Fasanella.

The staff also allege that Mr Romano, who receives an annual salary of $211,000, got them to put in a new driveway at his Russell Lea home on a Saturday. Mr Romano paid for the concrete but he did not pay the staff or a council subcontractor for their work. He took them out to lunch during work time instead.

Mr Becerra and Mr Romano have denied any wrongdoing, saying they were unaware council staff were working on their six-unit apartment block, bought for $1.26 million in March 2007.

However, emails obtained by the Herald suggest that throughout last year the three partners sent numerous emails concerning the renovation of their units to a staff member at his Burwood council email address. The emails included lists of outstanding work to be done, ordering of shower screens, collecting tiles and other such instructions.

This evening Burwood councillors will hold an extraordinary meeting, which will be closed to the public, to discuss the allegations raised in the Herald.

Liberal councillor John Sidoti told the paper he objected to the meeting being a closed session. "Anything done behind closed door is always perceived as being underhanded," he said.

Burwood's Mayor, Lesley Furneaux-Cook, said in a media release yesterday: "Burwood Council … is aware of the allegations and … the matter is being seriously examined and is being handled appropriately … The allegations have been referred to an independent external agency for review and assessment."

Meanwhile, Mr Romano sent an email to staff saying that the allegations raised in the Herald were "totally false and unsubstantiated" and that he wished to assure them "I will not allow this matter to interfere with my role as general manager".