The Village of Cobleskill wants its money back.
To that end, village officials are trying to recover the $8,828 former clerk-treasurer Samantha Moyster received in 2016 and 2017.
A damning State Comptroller’s audit released in early January found that Ms. Moyster shouldn’t have received that money, which came, according to the audit, in “paid leave without available accruals, inaccurate health insurance buyout payments and inappropriately earned and used compensatory time earned and used compensatory time.”
The audit found other serious problems with Cobleskill finances in 2016 and ’17, and village books have been put in good shape since then.
The money paid to Ms. Moyster remains an issue. When the audit was released, Mayor Becky Terk wasn’t sure the village could recover the money.
Now, however, “we’re pursuing getting that money back,” she said.
Mayor Terk said Village Attorney Shawn Smith corresponded with Ms. Moyster, “but she has yet to respond.”
The Comptroller originally turned the case over to the State Attorney General’s Office, which has a division handling such issues. The Cobleskill one was too small, so it was sent to Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery.
On Friday, Ms. Mallery said Ms. Moyster has hired a lawyer––David Brickman––and “it’s proceeding.”
The case could be pursued through civil or criminal action, Ms. Mallery added.
She couldn’t comment about whether former Mayor Linda Holmes would be linked to the Moyster matter.
The village board did not rehire Ms. Moyster at the end of 2017 and brought in private accountant Lyn Lawyer to get the books straightened out.
Village trustees then hired Sheila Wilday, who had been clerk-treasurer for years, and she continued Ms. Lawyer’s work of correcting mistakes.
An independent audit of 2018 finances showed the village books in good condition.
Mr. Brickman did not return phone calls for this story.