Bullskin auditors, supervisors clash over availability of records
BULLSKIN TWP. – The township’s auditors indicated Wednesday they may be forced to take legal action to obtain certain records and documents they claim are necessary to conduct the 2010 audit after the supervisors denied their request for the paperwork a second time.
Jeff Hann, auditor, approached the supervisors again this month after they failed to respond to a letter dated Feb. 10 to provide the auditors with a list of various paperwork needed to audit the township’s accounts in accordance with the state’s auditor guide.
The auditors have until March 31 to complete the audit under law.
In the 30 years that Lee Ann Boring has served as an auditor she said there has not been a problem with getting records.
Hann added the auditors have contacted the state Department of Economic and Community Development as well as the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors to verify the documents they have requested are necessary to perform an accurate audit.
Supervisor Deb Wiltrout disagreed with the auditor’s request. “The papers that you requested are the same as you requested the first time and we told you that they are all available to you and you do not need them to do the audit,” said Wiltrout.
Wiltrout added he reviewed the necessary paperwork that was placed into several boxes turned over to the auditors Wednesday.
“You can come down and fill out a request and look at anything you want to look at,” said Wiltrout.
Hann, however, said the auditors needed to review the papers in the evenings when they are available.
“We will not be finishing the audit without those documents,” said Hann. “The code book says we need those documents, but you are refusing to give them to us.”
In the initial letter dated Jan. 21, the auditors made a request for the supervisors to provide certain documents within five days.
According to the letter, the items requested were provided in previous years that included fuel logs, activity reports, time cards, records showing inventories of real property, plant and equipment, copies of leases or contracts, meeting minutes, separate records maintained by the treasurer, the 2010 budget, insurance policies, all records pertaining to cash disbursements and any vouchers together with invoices or bills.
Solicitor Donald McCue responded to the request in a letter dated Jan. 26 that stated, “After careful review it is clear that you are not entitled to receive, nor do you need the information requested in order to perform a complete and accurate audit for Bullskin Township records.”
Wiltrout said the auditors didn’t need a copy of the phone log or time cards to do the audit, however, Hann said the time cards were necessary so they could be compared with the supervisors salaries.
“You have everything that’s been turned into payroll and needed to complete the audit,” said Wiltrout.
Hann begged to differ. “We need to have those for the audit and you’re not providing them,” Hann said.
Hann further said the auditors intend to have an attorney appointed and would petition the Fayette County court system if they don’t receive the paperwork and that the township would have to absorb the costs.
“You do what you have to do but you have a deadline,” said Wiltrout.