Township’s audit records turned over to district attorney
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – The township’s 2003 audit of financial records has been turned over to the Fayette County District Attorney’s Office after the auditors allegedly found numerous undocumented expenditures. Supervisors and township solicitor John Cupp acknowledged Thursday that the completed audit indicates $32,567.99 in checks were written to two individuals without substantial documentation as to why the individuals were being paid and an additional $4,419.33 in checks that were written for various township expenditures with no supporting invoices or documentation.
“I was given a list of questionable transactions and a list of transactions or expenditures in which the board examined and problems were found,” Cupp said.
Several checks in the amount of $2,500 were made payable to the individuals, along with amounts of $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000, according to the listing included in the audit presented by Cupp during the meeting.
Cupp declined to comment about the content of the audit, stating that attorney Carmine V. Molinaro Jr. serves as legal counsel for the three-member auditor panel.
He said, however, that he has been informed that the audit has been turned over to District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon and that no charges have been filed to date.
Molinaro nor Vernon could be reached late Thursday for comment about the investigation.
Cupp said that he has been additionally informed that the current administration or the township secretary cannot locate minutes recorded during meetings held in 2003.
“We have a significant amount of missing records,” he said, adding that many of the township ordinances also cannot be found.
Supervisor chairman Don Hann declined to comment about the matter.
The issue was initially broached by township resident Fred Elcock after the supervisors voted to approve the audit.
“I understand there are some discrepancies in the audit and there have been some rumors about it,” he said, asking that the supervisors confirm the speculation or “put the matter to rest.”
Cupp, meanwhile, said that at the present time, the supervisors will take no action in the matter.
“Right now, it’s up to the auditors and they have filed a complaint with the district attorney’s office,” he said.