Could Embezzlement Scam Happen in North Whitehall?

With news of South Whitehall Township's alleged $850,000 embezzlement case still fresh, residents asked officials if North Whitehall could fall victim to a similar scam.

Township Manager Jeff Bartlett said he conducted an internal review after the story broke last month that South Whitehall's utility supervisor Nancy Tonkin, and her husband, William, a former police officer, were

Bartlett said with a small staff it's often difficult to separate duties to make sure there are checks and balances. 

"On advice of paid auditors, I'm confident we do have a good separation of checks and balances of our finances," Bartlett said. "I'm confident there are safeguards in place."

Bartlett told residents that township Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Norder is so diligent she "gave herself a major headache this weekend trying to find a $10 error in our accounting. That's how important it is to our staff to be accountable on the finances."

Bartlett said North Whitehall "does not have the volume of money that comes in to places like South Whitehall and Lower Macungie," where a township employee years ago was accused of stealing more than $2 million from accounts.

North Whitehall has a small number of water and sewer customers. Bartlett said when he began his job with the township about a year ago he asked to see every sewer bill that was more than $100 in arrears.

"I put her on notice someone was checking on her on a regular basis," he said. "Are we getting the money due to the township? I think we are in very good shape."

Norder told residents that she is bonded for $6 million.