Greenville council has decided not to pursue an investigation into possible criminal acts by former council members and borough managers that may have lead to the borough's $1.5 million deficit.

"Due to the high cost of the study, we have decided to turn down the proposal," said council President Pete Longiotti.

An investigation into the borough's money problems by Pennsylvania State Police turned up no criminal acts. A similar investigation by Mercer County District Attorney James P. Epstein and the county Sheriff's Department concluded this fall has not resulted in charges.

"Council decided the investment was not worth the risk," said borough solicitor Joe Joseph.

Joseph said the Pittsburgh firm the borough contacted about the investigation, Swenson, Perer and Kontos, would have done a forensic accounting study of borough finances to see what went wrong. Then, he said, if warranted, the firm would have recommended what litigation, if any, the borough could have pursued.

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