Mayor Kelly Yaede said such an expansion of the audit is appropriate in light of the conviction of former Mayor John Bencivengo, who was found guilty of accepting bribes in return for his official influence over the township's school board. Yaede announced the expanded audit this afternoon at a press conference
Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede led a township directors meeting last month.
HAMILTON — The township's regularly scheduled annual financial audit will be expanded to look more closely at the mayor's office and two other departments, Mayor Kelly Yaede said today.
At a press conference Yaede said the expansion is appropriate in light of the conviction of former mayor John Bencivengo, who was found guilty last year of accepting bribes in return for promising to influence the school board.
“We feel that an expanded audit is appropriate and proportional to the events of last year,” Yaede said.
The audit will focus in part of the departments of Community Planning and Compliance, and Health, Recreation, Seniors and Veterans, she said. Community Planning was previously headed by Robert Warney, who pleaded guilty to money laundering last year for helping get bribe money to Bencivengo
While Bencivengo was not accused of misusing public funds, the audit is being expanded to assure Hamilton taxpayers that his actions did not impact the township’s finances, Yaede said.
Bencivengo could face decades in federal prison when he is sentenced March 13. He was convicted of taking $12,400 bribes from insurance broker Marliese Ljuba in exchange for promising he would help her keep a no-bid contract with the school district.
The former mayor was convicted of extortion, attempted extortion, money laundering and Federal Travel Act violations.
The audit will be completed at no additional cost by independent auditors from Hodulik & Morrison, Yaede said. It will include forensic tests of spending records, tests of control systems and interviews with employees, township auditor Robert Morrison said.