Point Boro Dem to Council: Keep Auditor

Democratic Point Borough Councilman Chris Leitner is imploring his Republican colleagues to keep the borough auditor or he'll leave them in charge of the next municipal budget.

Leitner said at Tuesday night's council meeting that now is the not the time for switching auditors because the borough is "in the midst of cleaning up a huge financial mess," is in the middle of an audit and is about to begin working on the 2012 municipal budget.

He made the plea because

Leitner is one of three Democrats left on the governing body of the mayor and six council members. He told his fellow council members that while he appreciates them wanting him to serve as council finance chairman, as he did last year, he will not do so if council does not reappoint

Apparently, that's not an ultimatum that strikes fear in Republican hearts.

After the meeting, Republicans said they are looking at other auditors, along with possibly considering reappointing Fallon and Fallon.

"We're checking out the credentials of those who have come forward," said Councilmember Antoinette DePaola. Councilmember Robert Sabosik agreed.

Councilmember Mitch Remig also said, in a separate interview, that various options are being considered.

"I've heard mixed feelings about the current and past auditor," he said. "I have to talk to the tax office and the CFO (chief financial officer) and see who they prefer."

He said the new CFO, "has been doing a great job getting things back in order." And he noted that there is an investigation being done regarding past accounting practices, well before Swisher was hired.

He said he did not know which agency was doing the investigation. When Leitner was later asked which agency is doing it, he said he could not divulge that.

Leitner, reading from a prepared statement during the meeting, said: "I want to thank my fellow councilmembers, for praising the job I did last year as Chair of the Finance Committee — so much so that you entrusted me with the seat again this year. I appreciate how much you value my opinion and advice as Finance Committee chair.

"Since you trust my opinion, I am asking you to follow my advice now. We are in the midst of cleaning up a huge financial mess.

"Our situation is complex and confusing but it is being corrected. Now is not the time to switch auditing firms.

"Very basically, the finance committee needs an auditor who knows the complexity of our current financial position. We need Fallon and Fallon to advise us as we move forward in what will still be a very difficult budget year.

"The Fallon office was instrumental in formulating the 2011 budget, including identifying many of the funds and interfunds, previously unknown. We avoided massive furloughs and massive tax increases last year and we owe that to the work of our auditor.

"Bringing in a new firm now will require that office get up to speed on a complicated and confusing financial picture that will cause delay, increase the workload and potentially cost us money.

"I feel so strongly about this that if the majority of council, in its wisdom, decides to hire a new auditor, it should at the same time decide upon a new finance chair. I will not serve as finance chair only to have my time and energy wasted.

"It would be unfair to me and my family, to the Finance committee and to the Borough. Please heed my advice and let's finally put this financial mess behind us this year."

When Remig was asked after the meeting about who would be appointed as municipal attorney, he said various law firms are being considered including the borough's current law firm of Starkey, Kelly, Bauer, Kenneally and Cunningham.

"I don't think they're gonna get it because if were were going to do that, we would have done it at the reorganization," he said. "But they're still in the hat."