Despite its glaring fiscal problems and a large segment of the community that is up in arms over high taxes and a multi-million borough project, Greenville is still a viable community, according to Borough Manager Kenneth S. Weaver.

"It's the largest community and the hub of this part of the county, whether some townships around us would like to admit that or not," Weaver said Thursday during a town hall meeting.

Greenville is the fourth-largest community in Mercer County, behind Sharon, Hermitage and Grove City -- all of which are in the southern half of the county.

Weaver said he believes the borough -- which has asked $500,000 of the bond money had been used (for day-to-day expenses)," Weaver added.

Weaver said he discovered the problems in an audit of the borough's finances from 2000.

"I've always asked for audits before my interviews. You can't trust budgets," said Weaver, who has been the top administrator of four cities in three states and a county administrator in Virginia.

Several council members have said audits were unavailable to them despite repeated requests for copies. Borough staffer Betsy Smith said Thursday that former Manager Peter D. Nicoloff Jr. had "locked the last two years of audits in a safe." She said it took her repeated requests to get the audits so she could send copies to the state.

Nicoloff resigned Oct. 31. He has been unavailable for comment for a month.