WARREN Manager in hot water over missing money

The special audit covering April 2000 has not been made public yet.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The office manager of the city's water department faces administrative charges of neglect of duty, dishonesty and nonfeasance because $26,036 is missing from department accounts.
A predisciplinary conference for Richard Griffing was conducted May 29. If Fred Harris, safety-service director, finds him guilty of any of the administrative charges, he could face discipline.
Harris must release his decision by Friday, officials said. Griffing declined comment today.
Special audit: In a letter written by Harris, and placed in Griffing's personnel file, the charges against Griffing result from a special audit of the water department office for April 2000.
The state auditor's office has not released the audit publicly. City officials said an executive session of council was expected today to discuss it.
Harris' letter to Griffing informs him that state auditors have issued a finding for recovering against a water department employee. That employee, who retired in February, has not been charged.
"I was made aware, through the investigation by Mr. Gary Cicero, director of human services, that there were incidents of misconduct committed by you.
"By job description, you are responsible for supervising the collection of water revenues and managing the daily operations of the water office," Harris wrote to Griffing.
"By not performing your duties as office manager, you facilitated the theft of $26,036."
City and state officials would not comment on why the amount mentioned is considered theft.
Cash collection: Harris' letter also notes that during the special audit, Griffing told an auditor that the department did not have any written policies or procedures governing collections.
"This was a false statement," Harris wrote. "A cash collection policy has existed since June 13, 1996."
The letter further states that as office manager Griffing was to receive the cashier balance reports and document his receipt of the reports. "You did not perform these duties from April 3, 2000, through April 12, 2000."
The city's cash collection policy requires that all money be deposited within 24 hours. Griffing is accused of not doing so.
sinkovich@vindy.com