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Tax collectors complain about bounced paychecks

By Amy Zalar 6 min read

Tax collectors complained to the Fayette County commissioners Thursday that their paychecks bounced last month, asking questions about how they will be reimbursed. After the commissioners’ meeting, though, an official from National City said the mistake was made by the bank and letters were sent to all county employees, noting it would take care of any fees incurred as a result of the error.

Springfield Township tax collector Matt Show brought a poster-sized reproduction of the check to the commissioners meeting. Speaking at the end of the meeting during public comment, Show was accompanied by Fayette County Tax Collector Association president Mary Grace Butela, who held up the large check stamped with “NSF- Non Sufficient Funds.”

Show said as a result of the bad check, written March 17, he was unable to pay several bills, and wasn’t even notified about the issue until he received an odd looking piece of mail from National City Bank. He said nobody from the county called him about the issue and he still hasn’t been reimbursed.

“Where’s my money?” he asked.

However, in a statement released later by the county controller’s office, Raymond J. Koffler II, vice president of National City Bank, admitted an encoding error by the bank on March 13 caused a shortage in the county’s payroll account. But he said it was rectified immediately after it was discovered.

“It is our policy to reimburse any and all charges and fees incurred. Simply provide us with documentation from your financial institution of the charges and we will reimburse those to you.

“Please accept our apologies for this unfortunate situation,’ wrote Koffler in the letter.

Koffler added it was his understanding that those affected by the problem had contacted the bank and were reimbursed. Koffler said he wasn’t aware of any particular problem with the tax collectors.

During the meeting, Butela asked the commissioners need to investigate the issue. She pointed out that a few years ago the commissioners cut the compensation of tax collectors from 3 percent to $1.50 per bill, and it is terrible for a tax collector’s meager paycheck to bounce.

Show said he was seeking answers from the commissioners.

“Your names are on the top corner of the check,” Show said.

He said in addition to the $404.15 amount of the bounced check he has yet to receive, he is seeking a late fee, as well as money for a lost day of wages, for a total amount of $544.57. Show said this is the largest paycheck of several he receives.

After a brief discussion with Holly Sumey, administrative assistant for Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites, Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink said she had just been informed that the bounced check was an error on the part of National City, the financial institution the county uses. Neither Vicites nor Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy commented.

Sumey then suggested that Show to speak with Chief Deputy Treasurer Dianne Rossini to get the matter resolved. Sumey said apparently after the error that resulted in the bounced check, the treasurer’s office was given a list from National City Bank of people who received bounced checks, which were notified and reimbursed. She said the list included attorneys and county employees.

“(Dianne) took care of the ones she knew,” Sumey said.

When asked about what he did after receiving the check, Show said he didn’t contact anyone because he felt someone should contact him.

Butela said she had contacted National City and was told by a teller that it was not a computer glitch.

“If this was National City’s error, what was the error?” Butela asked. “When you bounce a check, you know it. I’m sure someone (from the county) was notified. This is disgraceful.”

Butela said the check went through three times, being rejected for non-sufficient funds each time.

During the last commissioners meeting before the May 15 municipal primary, several other people made public comment.

Tanya Cellurale brought photographs taken of alleged zoning violations on property owned by Terry and Diane Kriss at the historic Meason House, saying something should be done about the violations. Cellurale, who works at Joey’s Auto Body and Repair, also asked Zimmerlink what was done about the prior photographs of a “drainage situation” on the property of Barb Cellurale. Zimmerlink said she turned the photographs over to the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development.

Joey’s Auto Body and Repair business, as well as Cellurale Garden Center, have received citations for zoning violations, and Zimmerlink previously said she has met with Terry Kriss as well as Tammy Stenson, planning director, on the matter. Cellurale has accused Zimmerlink of being the driving force behind the violations.

Cellurale said she wants to know why nothing is being done about the junk in the yard of the Meason House. She accused Zimmerlink of having “private meetings” with Terry Kriss and said the newspaper coverage is incorrect because the familiar relationship of Marilyn and Joey Cellurale was listed incorrectly, adding that the newspaper is biased because nothing is ever written against the commissioners. Cellurale said the minutes of the commissioner’s meeting listed her employer as incorrect as well.

Zimmerlink said she would turn the pictures over to the planning office. She further said the Krisses were cited. Regarding the allegations of bias, Zimmerlink said human errors occur.

Zimmerlink offered to meet with Cellurale to discuss the issue, saying if Cellurale is aware of the meetings Zimmerlink has had with Kriss, they weren’t private. When Zimmerlink offered to meet with Cellurale on Thursday afternoon, Cellurale said she would have to check her schedule.

Both Zimmerlink and Vicites said the planning office should do its job fairly and consistently.

Robert Quentin Jones, who said he purchased the mineral rights for a piece of property last September, wanted to know what he hasn’t yet received his deed.

Jones said he spoke with Vicites on Monday and had not heard back from him. Vicites said the first he heard of it was Monday, and solicitor John Cupp will not be available to discuss the issue until next week.

“We have a legal situation we have to look into,” Vicites said.

Jones said he is the only person who purchased property at the auction that hasn’t received his deed. “It’s been seven months,” Jones said, adding that Donna Yauger, head of the tax claim office, is not doing her job.

Richard Frame expressed frustration with the planning office regarding violations, and Mike Merkosky said he was upset that voters who used to vote in one precinct are forced to vote in another. Zimmerlink said the state imposed SURE system has been correcting errors. She said the state and not the county initiated it. Vicites said the maps were drawn years ago and the state later took over the system.

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