GREENVILLE
Audit reveals more woes
By Tom Fontaine
Herald Staff Writer
While no figures contained in the completed audit of Greenville's 2001 finances have changed since auditors reported their preliminary findings last month, the finished product presents a host of new concerns.
"Due to the circumstances, we included a lot of comments and notes that we normally would not include," said Frank J. Nagy of the Sharon accounting firm Black, Bashor & Porsch.
Those comments were contained in a nine-page management letter accompanying the 119-page audit. Among the auditors findings:
Although construction on the estimated $1.7 million downtown revitalization project has not begun, the project is already $140,000 over budget.
Engineering and design costs were expected to be $27,295; as of Dec. 31, the actual cost was $167,158. As a result, the borough is out of compliance with its grant for the project.
Several invoices for work at the borough's sports complex cannot be found, and it appears that some work was done and payments made without proper approval by the borough or the project manager.
The 42-acre sports complex is already $200,000 over budget, 16 months behind schedule and on hold.
There was a problem with Zawistowski Construction regarding prevailing wages in the fire station project. Contractors on government projects must pay workers according to a scale based on union wages.
The borough had not spent all of the money available to it for housing rehabilitation and in other grants for various purposes, such as guns for the police department and airport hangar improvements. Two housing rehabilitations have been done this year.
Tax Collector Linda Crisman received $3,312 for office expenses for the first half of 2002. Council did not approve the transaction and former council President Bryan Shannon, who resigned Dec. 31, was the second signature on the check. The audit did not identify who the first signature was. Additionally, several other financial transactions were not approved by council.
Borough officials were unable to locate six items selected for testing during the audit.
The audit was released to the public today. Residents may examine the audit at the borough building or buy a copy for $10, which covers copying costs.
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Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002