WENTZVILLE • The Board of Aldermen on Wednesday night announced it had referred to "appropriate agencies and/or authorities" questions about possible conflicts of interest.

The board, in a statement written by City Attorney Paul Rost, did not explain who or what was at issue.

The statement said "an initial investigation" undertaken in response to an employee complaint had led to "the discovery of issues" that were referred to other agencies for further investigation and action "if deemed warranted." Board members and Rost refused to elaborate.

One board member had said previously that the board discussed at earlier meetings concerns over whether Mayor Paul Lambi had mixed official duties with his role as chief executive officer of a private consulting firm. Lambi has denied doing anything improper.

At issue was an unsuccessful attempt last year by Lambi's firm, Winning Endeavors, to get Ranken Technical College of St. Louis to contribute to a student mentoring effort that the firm has been promoting. Ranken later negotiated an agreement with the city to establish a satellite campus in Wentzville with help from a city subsidy.

Lambi has said his firm merely suggested that Ranken and city officials talk with one another about the satellite idea.

Ranken's president and Lambi's firm both have said Ranken's negotiations with the city began only after Ranken turned down the company's request for a donation.

Lambi last September told aldermen and the city's business development director to take over all communication with Ranken on the satellite campus idea.