Wednesday, January 24, 2007
STRUTHERS — City council’s meeting tonight was dominated by a “they said, she said” exchange among several members of council and Auditor Tina Morell.
The councilmen — Mark A. Sandine, 2nd Ward; Daniel R. Yemma, 3rd Ward; Paul J. Garchar Jr., 4th Ward; and Jerry L. Shields, at-large — said Morell has not provided accurate, timely financial information, leading them not to trust the accuracy of her reports.
Morell, on the other hand, said her information is correct, and she has the documents to prove it if only the councilmen would come to her office. She said only two members of council have come to her office to hear what she has to say.
One was Councilman Terry P. Stocker, at-large, who was alone in defending her at the meeting. There is a lot of scrutiny of Morell, he said, compared to the previous city auditor who left three years ago.
“It appears the auditor has not been treated with the respect she deserves. I think she is doing a good job,” Stocker said.
The public criticism of Morell came after her assertion at the Jan. 10 council meeting that most council members had not come to her office to get financial information.