Turin chief backs board

TURIN — The town supervisor is defending many of his board's past actions regarding the Town Court fund, despite an apparent $37,000 shortfall revealed in a recent state audit.

"I will plead innocence for them," first-year Supervisor Gerald R. Reed Jr. said. "It was just not training they have had. It will be training they will have."

A state comptroller's audit report released last week identified an apparent $37,199 shortfall in the Turin Town Court account from last year. Auditors determined that as of Oct. 27, the Town Court's cash on hand was $12,123, while its reported liabilities — such as bail held on pending cases and unremitted fines and fees — were $49,322.

Most of the apparent shortfall stemmed from bail money that had not been accounted for. Auditors said Town Justice James E. Chase provided them with an outstanding bail list of $11,000, while their review showed the court should be accountable for at least $36,870.

The comptroller's report blames Mr. Chase and Town Council members for lack of proper oversight and record-keeping. It also says a two-member "audit committee" falsely certified with the state Unified Court System that it had, in 2008, conducted a complete audit of 2007 financial operations of the court, even though it could not have determined that financial and court records were accurate.

The pair was identified in past board minutes as councilwomen Joanne L. D'Ambrosi and Linda M. Galarneau.

"They were asked to do something, but they weren't shown what to do," Mr. Reed said.

The court fund apparently hadn't been properly audited over the years, and the two councilwomen offered to handle the task when the board was given notice that it should be, the supervisor said.

"I think my council people felt they needed to step up," he said.

However, poor record-keeping, including a lack of monthly reports, made it very difficult for them to sort things out, Mr. Reed said.

Mrs. Galarneau said they spent a lot of time reviewing records and checking with the judge and felt they did their best to review the finances and identify areas of concern. She said she doesn't plan to volunteer for audit duty again.

Mrs. D'Ambrosi declined comment on the matter.

Mr. Reed said he suspects that poor bookkeeping practices may have served to inflate the deficit figure.

However, he said, he is committed to determine how the situation occurred, regardless of the results.

"I'm not here to cover up anything," he said. "I'm here to protect the taxpayers of the town of Turin."

Mr. Reed said he has been in contact with Fifth Judicial District officials concerning the comptroller's audit and expects to hear back from them this week or next.

"I am trying to get the courts to send me auditors to help us make heads or tails out of this mess," he said.

Town officials also are required to submit a corrective action plan to the comptroller's office within 90 days of release of the final audit report, and council members plan to request that auditors from that state office assist with their review, Mr. Reed said.

While the town eventually may have to hire an accountant to help clear up the matter and audit court finances moving forward, Mr. Reed said he will try to solicit help from state agencies first to avoid local expense.

"We don't have a rich town," he said.

Mr. Reed said he that doesn't believe Mr. Chase has benefited personally from court funds, but that he doesn't "100 percent know that."

Findings from the audit, covering the period of Jan. 1, 2008, through Oct. 27, 2009, were referred to the Lewis County district attorney's office. District Attorney Leanne K. Moser said last week that the probe is in its preliminary stages. She is out of town this week.