City council will dock Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti's pay for three months and hire an outside legal counsel to investigate possible criminality over the fundraising dinner from which he pocketed $80,000.

Council voted 37-2 after heated debate on Wednesday to approve the suspension of pay recommended by the city’s integrity commissioner, Janet Leiper, who last week said Mammoliti violated the code of conduct by holding a $5,000-a-table fundraising dinner, attended by lobbyists, developers and others with business at city hall, in May 2013.

A separate motion to investigate possible criminality passed 33-6, after some councillors suggested the police should be brought in.

Coun. Paul Ainslie stands in the council chamber at Toronto City Hall on Wednesday, 2014 after Mayor Rob Ford issued an apology for critical robocalls sent to Ainslie's Scarborough ward. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

"It's a very serious matter when a city councillor uses his office to raise money for themselves on a personal level," Coun. Joe Mihevc, who introduced the motion, told CBC News. "It's serious enough the police should be taking a look at it, as well to see if any criminal charges should be laid."

Leiper's investigation began after CBC reported on the fundraising banquet in Woodbridge.

The lobbyist registrar revealed today she's also conducting an investigation into the fundraiser.

Ford apologizes

The council earlier heard an apology from Mayor Rob Ford who, separately, was also found to have violated the city's code of conduct by robocalling the constituents of Coun. Paul Ainslie over his stance on the Scarborough subway.

Ford robocalled Ainslie's constituents in Ward 43 last October — saying he didn't listen to the voters' wishes on the Scarborough subway extension.

"I want to apologize to Coun. Ainslie for exposing his constituents to a robocall that he voted against subways. I apologize," Ford told council.

Ford offered the apology, which Ainslie accepted, after hours of debate by city council.

Ford came under fire earlier in the day when he remained seated during a standing ovation for organizers of the city's recent WorldPride celebrations.