Answers are needed
Perry Township officials this week lobbed serious allegations. First, they believe that two supervisors, one who still holds the public office, were overpaid nearly $400,000 and that they must return the money.
Second, they believe a crime was committed and that District Attorney Nancy Vernon has failed to act, although she has had information for two years. Something definitely was amiss in Perry Township during the late 1990s. By the time the problem came to light the township was $1.3 million in debt and under allegations that it failed to submit payroll taxes to the IRS and that it misused grants. An extensive audit, reviewing three years, took much longer than anticipated because records were missing. Transactions needed to be painstakingly reconstructed. And when it was all over, the findings suggested that among other things, former supervisor Rich Uhrin – who in his role of secretary-treasurer was caretaker of the books and records – was overpaid $359,225. Current Supervisor Adam Muccioli was overpaid $36,126.
Township auditor Mark French said all this and more was turned over to the county’s chief prosecutor and nothing has happened.
The township has struggled the past couple of years, sticking to an austere budget, and repaying debts that never should have mounted. It isn’t in the clear yet but appears to be heading there. This has been a hardship to the township and its taxpayers.
The question remains though why has no effort been made to collect what is owed. Two of the three supervisors (Muccioli was absent) directed the solicitor to file civil action to recoup the funds. The long wait in taking this action is apparently the result of patience too long extended waiting for authorities to complete a criminal investigation.
To date that hasn’t been resolved. Perry Township and its taxpayers deserve to know why it hasn’t concluded and so do those who have had to live under the cloud of suspicion.