Tollett takes some time off

Looks like Jordy Tollett has sidestepped a potentially nasty situation: The city visitors bureau chief said yesterday he'll cash in his vacation time and a medical leave to "seek professional help for an unspecified condition." Tollett told the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau's executive committee his plans during a brief meeting Thursday morning.

"Jordy recognized that he had a problem," said Doug Horn, chairman of the visitors bureau's board. "He asked us to give him an opportunity to take extended time off to address those issues. We as a board decided we were going to do this because Jordy has done such a great job for the city."

Horn said he does know what type of help Tollett will seek and is not sure how long he will be gone.

It looked like Tollett was headed for trouble after a KPRC report aired Monday night showing him taking long lunches at local bars. When a reporter asked Tollett if he drank at lunch, he hemmed and hawed, but KPRC's cameras caught him having multiple drinks on more than one occasion. There's also the matter of a city controller's audit that's critical of management practices and record keeping in the visitors bureau. Overall, Mayor Bill White didn't seem too pleased with Tollett, telling KPRC that "it's about time that we looked at alternatives" for the bueau director's position.

Tollett's leave will start next week.