WASHINGTONVILLE – State officials
said the former mayor of Washingtonville increased his salary without
the board’s authorization.
“We determined that the former mayor increased his salary by $333
a month, beginning in fiscal year 2012-13, without the board’s formal
approval,” the audit report stated. For the 13-month period prior
to his departure, the former mayor received $4,333 more than formally
authorized, the state officials said.
Auditors said the village board should consult with the village attorney
to determine whether the unauthorized salary increases made to the former
mayor can be recouped.
Construction of a new Washingtonville Village Hall also came under fire
by the state comptroller’s office.
An audit of the village’s finances during the period of March 1,
2012 through July 12, 2013, looked at the management of the Village Hall
building project and other financial activities.
The report found that the village board did not properly plan and provide
oversight of the project. Auditors also said the second floor of Village
Hall is incomplete and unusable.
Following the flooding of the former Village Hall, the board voted to
knock it down and rehabilitate and modernize another building for government
use.
Auditors said the board should assess the condition of Village Hall and
develop a plan to complete it, and establish internal controls to ensure
that capital projects are planned, monitored and accounted for properly.
