Acting CFO Updating Washington Twp. Ledger Despite Council Vote

Washington Township has a new temporary acting CFO to update the town's financial ledger, even though the council voted against hiring her at their last meeting.

"This is the first we're hearing of it," Councilman Fred Goetz said at a council meeting Monday.

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said it was necessary to bring on the acting CFO so that the ledger could be updated in time for the 2013 budget.

"We cannot do the budget for the coming year until we have the general ledger done," Sobkowicz said.

Former CFO Jacqueline Do retired as of November 1.

Councilmen expressed concern about the move because the acting CFO is currently working at some unusual hours due to another job and because only the mayor had interviewed her, though she has previously worked for the township. Also, only a financial director — which the township does not currently have — can appoint a CFO, according to Goetz.

Township Administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel said the acting CFO was currently only doing data entry to update the ledger, and was not making new calculations or signing checks. The township was in arrears because the ledger had not been updated for almost 10 months, she said.

The township is also advertising to fill four positions, including a full-time treasurer job and part-time deputy clerk, planning and zoning board secretary and clerical assistant positions.

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