BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Allegations of "white collar" criminal activity have made the Sedamsville Community Council the target of separate investigations by the police division's fraud unit as well as the city's internal investigative arm.
The police investigation, launched two weeks ago, is in the preliminary stages. Investigators did not want to discuss specifics. "In this case, there have been allegations of white collar crime," said Detective William O'Brien of the police fraud unit. He said this was only an investigation and it could just as easily prove there is no wrongdoing.
In addition, the city's Office of Municipal Investigations (OMI) is looking into "allegations of impropriety" involving the community council, said Frank Sefton, an OMI investigator. The city's internal investigative arm normally examines allegations of serious misconduct involving city employees, those who contract with the city and anyone who receives city funding.
Community Council President Alberta Day could not provide specifics.
"We have a couple of people that's got some personal agendas," Mrs. Day said. "These people are going to have to back up these allegations." She said the council has hired an attorney, whom she would not name.
Police and city investigators say they don't know when their investigations would conclude.
The city's neighborhood support program contracts with the non-profit Invest in Neighborhoods, which can dole out up to $10,000 in city money to each community council for projects, said Bill Moller, the city's budget director.
