PORTAGE — Although water authority leaders haven’t ruled out criminal charges against longtime superintendent Joseph R. Stancovich, a conviction would not bring more restitution to the borough.
Questions about charging Stancovich came during Thursday’s authority meeting.
Stancovich resigned in December while auditors were completing a review that would show that the superintendent misused his official credit card, racking up more than $8,000 in travel expenses that included hotel, restaurant and gift shop bills.
Stancovich admitted the actions to The Tribune-Democrat.
“We determined there was personal use of authority resources by Joseph Stancovich,” the Kline Kimlin Certified Public Accountants report said. “Expenses were incurred for persons unrelated to authority business.”
Meeting visitor Rick Nagy asked if Stancovich would face legal action.
“We are still in discussion on that,” authority Secretary Dennis Beck said.
Auditors identified $8,558.45 in unauthorized expenses, and Stancovich has since repaid $14,808.45, which includes $6,250 to pay for the audit.
But $8,558.45 is not enough to charge Stancovich with a felony, authority Vice President Ray Bowman said. Any lesser charge would not disqualify him from collecting his pension starting in 2013.
A conviction also would not allow the authority to get any additional compensation, Solicitor William G. Barbin noted.
“By taking him to court, we would not receive any more back than we already got,” Barbin said.
In other business, the authority approved a temporary raise for chief plant operator Ron Cadwallader Jr., who has taken over superintendent’s duties until a permanent replacement is named. He will be paid the same annual salary of $46,232 that Stancovich was making.
The authority may hire a consultant to screen superintendent candidates. Final interviews and hiring approval would remain the authority board’s responsibility. Some in the audience questioned the need for a consultant, but Beck said that would remove questions of favoritism.
“We are discussing that because of the situation with all the scrutiny of the employees and scrutiny of the board,” Beck said. “We wanted to do this without somebody saying ‘The board is up to their old tricks again.’ ”
Local News
Charges against official weighed
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
