A town committee’s investigation into the funds missing from the Tax Collector’s Office will be turned over to state police next week, according to First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers.
A meeting is scheduled for Sept. 22, at which time the report will be in the hands of Josh Pattberg, a detective with the State Police Major Crime Squad, Drayton-Rogers said at Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.
“He will then go to the State’s Attorney’s office with it and his recommendations how to proceed at that point,” she said.
In January, an investigation began into funds suspected to be missing from the office of Tax Collector Karen Guillet, who has since resigned her position. She has not been charged with a crime.
Guillet held the elected position for 24 years.
The town’s Charter Revision Commission recently recommended that the position become appointed. That question will be on the November ballot for residents to decide.
Shortly after she was made aware of the situation, Drayton-Rogers brought the state police in, and it took over the criminal aspect of the investigation in conjunction with town officials own investigation that included an audit of the office.
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Drayton-Rogers said Wednesday she had hoped to have had a resolution to the matter by now. Town officials have fully cooperated with state police, she said.
“I wish I could move the process forward,” Drayton-Rogers said. “I am frustrated with the lack of action, and Detective Pattberg has taken total responsibility.”
State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance has said in the past that he could not say how long the process would take to determine if any charges will be brought in the case.
