Former Greenville Borough Manager Peter D. Nicoloff Jr., whose resignation took effect Oct. 31, said Thursday he owed the borough money until recently.

Nicoloff said he received several salary advances "many years ago when I started working for the borough," but had paid off the money.

"It was repaid recently in a gentlemanly fashion," Nicoloff said.

Regarding the advances, Nicoloff said they were "authorized."

Nicoloff would not say by whom they were authorized, when he repaid the money or how much he had owed, but the most recent audit of borough finances showed he owed at least $14,700.

Sharon accounting firm Black, Bashor & Porsch reported an employee advance of $14,700 from the nonresident wage tax fund, according to its 2000 audit of the borough's books.

Council President Richard Houpt said he had no knowledge of the debt being repaid. "My understanding was that it would be repaid this week, but I have not been informed that it has," Houpt said this morning.

Regarding whether the advance was authorized or legal, Houpt said, "All I know is that it did not go through the whole council."

"As far as legality, when it came to my attention, I got on it right away. I contacted our solicitor and told him to make arrangements to have it repaid," Houpt said. "As far as the manner of repayment, I said that it was to be repaid all at once" to borough solicitor Warren Keck III.

Keck had not returned calls from The Herald since Wednesday, as of this morning. Neither had current Borough Manager Kenneth S. Weaver. A secretary at Keck's law office said this morning that Keck was in, but not available.

When asked Tuesday if Nicoloff was advanced borough money, Keck said he would not comment on "rumors" and denied there had been any investigation into potential misuse of public money. Weaver, whose first day on the job was Monday, said Tuesday he had no knowledge of the advances.

Houpt said he learned in December that money had been advanced to Nicoloff. "It was over a period of years. Different amounts at different times. There might have been a half-dozen advances," Houpt said.

Councilman Bryan Langietti was unavailable for comment. Langietti, who is in his third year on council, is the second-most senior member. Langietti and Houpt are the only two councilmen who served prior to Monday.

Nicoloff disputed claims made Thursday by Houpt that audits had been withheld from council.

Nicoloff also said council was aware that about $500,000 of a $3.5 million bond floated by the borough to support its multi-million dollar recreation and revitalization project was used to keep the town afloat financially in 2000, as the audit indicated.

Houpt said council was unaware that part of the bond was used to support the budget until audits became available late last year.

"Copies of the audits were available for anyone to inspect. Everything was presented to them," Nicoloff said.

"Ultimately, council is responsible. They signed off on all that," Nicoloff added.

Regarding the use of the bond for general purposes, Nicoloff agreed with the borough position outlined in the audit -- that it "would be a proper reimbursement to the general fund or reimbursed prior to project completion."

Nicoloff said his resignation had nothing to do with controversy surrounding his or the borough's fiscal woes. It was a family decision, he said.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Tom Fontaine at

tfontaine@sharon-herald.com