Interim PA Fire Chief Appointed amid Financial Probe

Feb. 28--A longtime fire chief in West Hazleton will lead the department on an interim basis until council permanently fills the position, borough officials said.

Council appointed Robert Ward as borough fire department chief after Shawn Evans resigned as chief of both the fire department and fire company, according to several borough officials.

The appointment was approved at a special council meeting held Monday.

Meanwhile, Mayor John Chura confirmed that an investigation is underway regarding the fire department but would only say it's in the early stages. He did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation.

"It's very preliminary right now," Chura said.

Police Chief Brian Buglio declined comment while borough solicitor Chris Slusser said he could not comment on circumstances leading to -- and reasons for -- the vote cast by council.

Evans said in an email to the borough that he was taking medical leave and deferred questions to the fire association president, according to Councilman Henry Kreisl, who oversees council's fire committee. Evans could not be reached for comment.

The developments came about three months after the state Department of the Auditor General released a compliance audit of the West Hazleton Fire Company Fireman's Relief Association.

The audit reviewed relief association finances from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016, and contained findings regarding undocumented expenditures, transfer of funds, signatures required for disbursing funds and the association's failure to maintain an accurate equipment roster.

As for the audit, Kreisl said the relief association will develop a corrective action plan and move forward.

Appointment

Chura said that council appointed Ward because of his familiarity with the department and the community. Ward served as chief for nearly three decades before retiring in 2012.

"We knew him," Chura said. "He's been around."

Councilman Gerald Grink said Ward will serve in that capacity until council members "decide what direction we are going to take."

"I would imagine it will be until the volunteers get together with us," Grink said.

Council's recent vote ensures that Ward will temporarily fill in and serve as liaison between the borough and association, Kreisl said.

Organization

West Hazleton's firefighting operation consists of three entities: a paid component, or department, that is controlled by the borough; a fireman's relief association, and the West Hazleton Fire Company, according to Deputy Chief Robert Segaria.

A paid chief oversees the department while the fire company elects its own officers, Segaria said. The same person who is elected fire chief is usually recognized by the borough as chief, but two different people have occupied those positions at times over the years, he said.

Segaria said Evans resigned as borough chief in mid-February and informed council and fire representatives Monday that he resigned from the fire company, as well. Evans cited medical issues as the reason for his resignation from the fire company, Segaria said.

Audit

The state Department of Auditor General conducted the fireman's relief association audit to determine if the association received state aid and spent money in accordance with state law, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

While the report states that the association corrected findings listed in a prior audit, it cites findings pertaining to undocumented expenditures, erroneous transfer of funds, inadequate signatory authority for the disbursement of funds, and a failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.

"We are concerned by the number of findings noted and strongly encourage timely implementation of the recommendations noted in this audit report," Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in a letter that accompanies the audit.

Relief association management agreed with the findings and indicated they will take steps to comply with recommendations made by state officials, the report states. Specifically, state officials asked the association to produce supporting documents for $3,529 worth of undocumented expenses.

As of late October, the association verified that the fire company reimbursed the relief association $945 -- and the balance will be subject to verification in the next audit.

State officials also found that the relief association erroneously transferred $1,425 from its savings account to the fire company's checking account, prompting state officials to recommend the relief association be reimbursed for the transfer.

Another finding states that 11 of 20 checks that were chosen for review only contained the signature of one officer, even though two signatures are required by state law and relief association bylaws.

State officials will verify compliance in a future audit.

A final issue identified by the state found that the relief association did not create or maintain an equipment roster for $53,416 of equipment it owns.

State officials recommend that association officials maintain a cumulative equipment roster, perform annual physical inventories and maintain sufficient documentation of all operable equipment.

Compliance will be verified in a future audit.

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