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Money missing from Groveport water bill fund
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - February 22, 2010)
An investigation regarding money allegedly missing from the village of Groveport's water fund bill collections lead to the termination of a village employee.
According to disciplinary paperwork issued by the village, Rebecca Hutson, who worked as a receptionist at the Groveport Municipal Building, was fired Feb. 12 for alleged misfeasance and malfeasance in connection with the misappropriation of approximately $2,017 of village funds on multiple occasions from March 30, 2009 to July 1, 2009. Village officials said $88.68 of these funds are allegedly still missing.
Hutson's attorney, Michael Wintering, stated his client is innocent.
"She (Hutson) didn't take any money, not a penny," said Wintering. "She is not involved in any misappropriation or misapplication of any money, particularly monies from a common cash drawer available to numerous people. The village of Groveport has thrown a faithful female staff member into the volcano."
Wintering alleged the actual financial problem is the village's own "poor fiscal control and administration."
"This tactic will not stand," continued Wintering. "The name of the (alleged) thief will soon be revealed and the money involved is far greater than the alleged theft of $88 claimed by the (village) administration in connection with Rebecca Hutson's employment. Rebecca Hutson's name will be vindicated."
In a letter to the village dated Feb. 12, Wintering wrote, "My client will pursue her employer's interests...consider this letter to be an appeal of this determination."
Attorney Cheri Hass, who represents the village, stated, "There is no evidence of any other missing money or any other involvement by another person. The termination was not solely related to a cash drawer, but also stemming from a variety of issues, some involving computer (financial) postings."
Hass continued, "The village has acted absolutely appropriately with the utmost caution in terms of having the investigation pursued by unrelated outside agencies. The village has done everything it could to protect the rights of the employee and the citizens."
The problems regarding Groveport's water bill collections were discovered last July when a water bill customer came to the municipal building noting his account was not fully credited.
Hutson had been on paid administrative leave since July while the Franklin County Sheriff's Department conducted the approximately seven month audit and investigation into the matter.
The village paid Hutson about $19,576 in salary while she was on administrative leave during the investigation. Village officials would not disclose how much the village has spent on attorney fees in regards to the case and the cost of the audit/investigation.
Village officials said they could not disclose specific details about the investigation. Hass said the matter is now being referred to the Franklin County Prosecutor for review.
Hass added the village has instituted new measures for handling water bill payments. Now only village finance department employees handle water bill payments, which are paid at a secure window under the eye of a security camera.
Other money lost and found
In a separate incident, from Oct. 21, 2009 until Feb. 12, 2010, the village of Groveport also lost track of a batch of water bill payments of $8,176 in checks and $80.96 in cash, according to village records.
According to Groveport Finance Director Ken Salak, normally the village deposits its water bill collections within 24 hours, but a batch of payments from Oct. 21 were compiled too late in the day for deposit and too late to be placed in the village's safe. According to Salak, a village clerical employee locked the batch of payments in a cabinet in her office with the intent of depositing the money the next day. However, this employee then went on an extended medical leave and the batch was forgotten.
Salak said November's accounting reconciliations and customers stating their checks had not been cashed alerted the village of a problem. Replacement checks were obtained from customers and deposited. Salak said it later came to officials' attention that the batch also included $80.96 in cash.
Salak said a search of the Groveport Municipal Building ensued on Feb. 12 and the batch, including all $8,176 in original checks and the $80.96 in cash, was found in the cabinet where it had been locked up since October.
"Everything's been deposited and no money was lost from the batch," said Salak. "I'm not proud of it, I'm not happy it happened, but we found it all intact."
Now only village finance department employees close out cash drawers and make deposits.
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