After learning of $533K loss in Gregg Township, residents are still waiting for answers

After Gregg Township residents learned last month that nearly $533,000 had been lost from township accounts, they’re still waiting for answers about who will be held accountable.

A criminal investigation is ongoing, state police at Rockview told the CDT on Friday, a day after dozens of residents filled a meeting room in the Old Gregg School to hear an update from the board of supervisors.

Township officials have not shared over what time period the money was lost and said at a June meeting that its prior secretary “appears to have been involved in a series of transactions that resulted in large amounts of money being spent from Township accounts.” In emails obtained by the CDT through a Right-to-Know request, township solicitor David Gaines requested a draft of the 2021 township audit and wrote that the former secretary’s “activities” existed in 2021 and possibly before.

Last month, officials estimated that the loss came to nearly $533,000.

That total came from an investigation carried out by tax accountant John Corman, according to Gaines.

The township’s former secretary is currently suspended indefinitely without pay. Officials did not use the former secretary’s name during Thursday’s meeting and the CDT does not typically name suspects unless they are charged.

Gaines said Thursday that while no charges have been filed, the township has received updates from law enforcement.

“They do not necessarily tell us what they’re doing, but they assure us that they are proceeding,” Gaines said of the police investigation.

The bonding company’s investigation is also ongoing, Gaines told the CDT. Officials said last month that they expected to be repaid, as the estimated amount falls within the township’s bond limits.

Responding to questions during public comment, supervisor Ben Haupt said that if the criminal investigation comes back with evidence against the former secretary, the township does intend on prosecuting.

Resident Lisa Bierlein called for the supervisors to continue to be transparent with its posting of minutes and updates to the public throughout this process, after a resident at last month’s meeting called the minutes from June’s township meeting “vague.”

Last month, the board hired a new township secretary and treasurer and voted to have each of its supervisors subjected to an annual state police background check.

The next Gregg Township meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m on Thursday, Oct. 10.