Friday, January 28, 2000
Auditor to review Lebanon buyouts
BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — Ohio Auditor Jim Petro plans to review early retirement buyouts for three former top Lebanon employees that cost the city nearly $500,000.
Acting on concerns brought to light by The Cincinnati Enquirer last week, a special audit committee is to discuss the issue Tuesday and may determine then whether to launch an investigation, spokesman Mitch Given said.
“There's enough people looking at it now that somebody ought to come up with the right answer,” Councilman Mark Flick said. “If money has been spent improperly, then we've got to go back after it and put it where it belongs — back in the city coffers.”
City officials last week asked the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate the matter. Because such an investigation could take six to nine months, council members also directed new City Attorney Mark Yurick to determine who is eligible for the buyouts and if the city can recoup the money.
Mr. Yurick said he likely will file a civil lawsuit against the three employees.
At issue is a city contract stipulating that only electric department employees are eligible.
Debbie Biggs, city auditor, and Bill Duning, city attorney, worked for council, not the electric department. The third employee, Bob Newton, retired as deputy director of the electric department.
Another concern is that Mrs. Biggs and Mr. Newton approved their own buyouts without council or the city manager's OK, city officials said.
The state auditor's office investigates possible misuse of public money, Mr. Given said. The special audit committee reviews hundreds of allegations each year and investigates an average of 30.
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