First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers met with state police Monday concerning allegations of money missing from the tax collector’s office.
“I gave them a verbal account and now I have to turn that into a written report to be filed with the state police,” she said.
(Update: The CT Post reported Feb. 14 that Drayton-Rogers submitted her written report to police).
Tax Collector Karen Guillet was placed on paid sick leave Jan. 13 after Drayton-Rogers received an anonymous complaint about the missing funds. An in-house investigation was launched when Guillet was placed on leave.
Guillet hired an attorney and declined to take her sick pay.
Drayton-Rogers said Tuesday she will be sending in an official request to the state police for an investigation. State police were already made aware of the situation in Town Hall.
In addition to posing information on the town’s Web site, Drayton-Rogers has been keeping residents apprised of the investigation on an almost weekly basis through various news organizations.
In regard to an audit underway, Drayton-Rogers said she spoke with accountants at Michaud and Accavallo in Ansonia. She was told the audit should be completed by Feb. 16.
“Things are still in the works,” she said.
In the meantime, the Board of Selectmen, during a regular meeting with Town Attorney Fran Teodosio Tuesday, approved an adjustment to Assistant Tax Collector June Coburn’s hours for training purposes.
Coburn was hired as an assistant tax collector on a temporary basis for 18 hours a week at a rate of $20 an hour.
Based on the Selectman’s approval, Coburn will now work 14 hours a week at $20 an hour and four hours a week at $30 an hour in order to train interim tax collector Sharon Scinto on office procedures.
Drayton-Rogers said the Board of Finance would be notified of the adjustment.
