Call it the Joe Jitters or Fontana Fatigue.

Eight months after the mayor's every move sparked political explosions, no one on city council wants to talk much about Joe Fontana's latest troubles.

Council members contacted by The Free Press on the weekend shied away from saying a lot about revelations in the paper Saturday that the mayor pocketed $41,000 from a foundation he chaired -- a foundation that lost its charitable status over concerns too much effort and money was being used for non-charitable purposes.

The news set social media abuzz again about London's political problems and the city's image, but politicians were reluctant to join in. "Let's not talk about Joe's issues. Let Joe talk about Joe's issues," Ward 8 Coun. Paul Hubert said. "I'd like to talk about many other things."

In the fall, Hubert helped lead two failed attempts to ask Fontana to step aside, first while RCMP investigated payments for a 2005 wedding reception for Fontana's son and later, after RCMP laid three charges against the mayor. On the weekend, Hubert said enough was enough.

"We did what we could as a council in the fall. There is nothing we can do as a result of this," he said.

Ward 5 Coun. Joni Baechler, another leader in the attempts to get Fontana to step aside in the fall, echoed Hubert's comments.

"What's the point of doing it again and again?"

The publicity from the latest revelations won't do London much good, Baechler said.

But it's up to those who voted to keep

Fontana in the mayor's seat to bring up the issue again, she said.

"I don't want to be accused of bringing a negative light on London," Baechler said.

Several council members -Fontana foes and allies alike -didn't sound indifferent to the latest story, as much as determined to avoid any more muck.

"I will keep my nose to the grindstone no matter how many speed bumps get in my way," Fontana ally and Ward 4 Coun. Stephen Orser said when asked about the revelations.

Ward 12 Coun. Harold Usher, an occasional Fontana supporter, said the story about the mayor has no impact on him, even though it might have some on council business.

"I don't pay attention to these things," Usher said.

"We don't like to see any of our colleagues in the headlines for this. We like to see more positive news. But for me personally, I just see the headline and I move on."

The headlines in Saturday's paper concerned Trinity Global Support Foundation that recently lost its charitable status. Court documents filed by the Canada Revenue Agency show nearly $8 million raised for hungry school kids and to fight HIV/ AIDS went into the pockets of Fontana and fellow directors of the charity, The Free Press reported Saturday.

One of Fontana's staunchest allies, Ward. 1 Coun. Bud Polhill, went the farthest in his comments supporting the mayor after the revelations.

What Fontana does in his spare time has no effect on his ability to do his job, Polhill said.

"He works hard and is doing a great job on the things the taxpayers asked him to do. His personal life has nothing to do with me."

If some council members have become more shy about talking about Fontana the past few months, it may have something to do with their own public-relations challenges.

Ward. 14 Coun Sandy White got into trouble in March for using a racial slur to explain a decision to leave the transit commission over a bus ad featuring pop star Katy Perry.

Asked to comment about the latest revelations about Fontana, White would only offer this statement:

"We are making significant progress in Ward 14. I will continue to focus on my constituents' needs."

Ward 2 Coun. Bill Armstrong referenced his own battle with the media when asked about Fontana's.

Armstrong wants The Free Press to reveal the confidential source of a lawyer's letter that accuses the veteran politician of questionable behaviour at a methadone-dispensing pharmacy.

That issue surfaced in the fall, and Armstrong said he's glad the public didn't rush to judge him on it.

"As far as Joe (Fontana) is concerned, I'm not the judge. I leave that to the public. I will continue to work and do my job."

Several council members didn't return phone messages left both Saturday and Sunday.

JOE'S WOES

Oct. 19, 2012: The Free Press breaks the story that questions are being asked -and the Mounties called in -about federal cheques used to pay for the wedding reception of Joe Fontana's son, Michael, in 2005 when Fontana was a Liberal MP and cabinet minister.

Oct. 30: Amid growing public concern, and calls by some politicians he step down until the police probe is completed, eight council members vote to block even debating a motion asking Fontana to consider stepping aside.

Nov. 21: The RCMP says Fontana is charged with three criminal offences related to "an alleged inappropriate use of funds" while he was an MP in 2005.

Nov. 26: Council's finance committee votes 3-1 to endorse Coun. Joni Baechler's motion asking Fontana to consider stepping aside. Dec. 11: The motion fails in an 8-5 council vote.

April 23, 2013: Charity tied to Fontana loses court fight to hang onto its charitable registration. May 4: Free Press cites court documents showing Fontana pocketed $41,000 in consulting fees for foundation he chaired. Nearly $8 million in total went into the pockets of charity's directors.