State audit says former Washingtonville mayor gave himself unauthorized raise

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.