Independence Township audit reveals payment of vacation time
Independence Township supervisors listen as Steven Cypher, right, addresses issues found in a four-year payroll audit.
A screenshot of a portion of a Cypher & Cypher audit of Independence Township spending showing more than $20,000 in improperly issued checks
After an initial May audit found a former Independence Township secretary had improperly issued more than $10,000 in checks for herself for unused vacation time, an update Wednesday revealed a second employee had received similar improper compensation, according to auditors.
John N. Boyce, who retired as roadmaster Dec. 31, 2015, also received checks for unused vacation time, according to an audit by Cypher & Cypher presented to township supervisors. Boyce and former secretary Mildred Ostop received a total of $20,972 in improper payments from 2010 to 2014, the auditors said.
Supervisors Chairman Tom Jennings said the board has not decided what action to take, or whether the board will seek to recover the cash.
Officials have said employees are not entitled to payment for vacation time they do not use.
“We still have to meet with our solicitor about it. We haven’t met and really reviewed this report yet,” Jennings said.
The procedure to authorize checks requires two signatures, according to solicitor Gary Sweat, one from a supervisor and one from the secretary. Supervisor Louis Brandenburg said at previous meetings he had signed blank checks, trusting employees to cash the proper amounts, but that the practice has stopped. Auditor Steven Cypher said proper care to document payroll action should be followed, as well.
“If it’s not in the minutes, it didn’t happen, so take care to memorialize your decisions in all meetings,” Cypher said.
In other business, the board approved the formation of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Hopewell Township to pay for utility expenses at Avella Community Center. Hopewell will pay $2,500 annually under the agreement, while Independence will pay $5,000.
The board also rejected bids for phase one and part of phase two for the proposed $3 million township park. Jennings said bids upward of $390,000 were too high, and the board would rebid the project.
The board then unanimously approved Local Share Account applications to compete for casino cash to help with upkeep of the community center, specifically reconstruction of hallway floors and electrical work.