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WYOMING — Tamra Smith, the embattled Wyoming Borough manager, submitted her resignation at Tuesday’s council meeting and it was accepted.

Attempts to get a copy of Smith’s letter of resignation were not immediately successful. The Times Leader was referred to attorney Lars Anderson, who handles personnel matters for the borough. A message left on Anderson’s voice mail was not immediately returned.

“Yes, she has resigned,” a woman answering the phone at the borough building said Wednesday. “And yes, council accepted her resignation.”

Mayor Joseph Dominick was at Tuesday’s council meeting. He said Councilman Michael Baloga was attempting to make a motion that would eliminate the position of borough manager when attorney Anderson stopped him and informed council he had received Smith’s letter of resignation.

Dominick said Anderson opened the letter, but did not disclose its contents. He said Anderson advised council to accept Smith’s resignation, but to not accept the contents of the letter.

“I did not see the letter,” Dominick said. “It was given to the borough secretary. In the interim, Roseanne Colarusso, borough secretary/treasurer, will handle the borough manager’s duties.”

Dominick said there was no discussion about the letter — only a motion to accept Smith’s resignation.

At council’s August meeting, discussions were held on Smith’s roles and responsibilities, ultimately resulting in a motion to terminate her that was defeated.

Smith is currently the subject of a Pennsylvania State Police investigation for missing financial records and unexplained purchases from both the Wyoming Free Library and Wyoming Hose Co. 1.

To date, Smith has been unavailable to offer her side on questions ranging from missing audit reports to security systems. A call to her accounting office seeking comment was answered by voice mail. Smith did not return the call.

No charges have been filed. Despite previous concerns raised by council and others, Smith had been allowed to remain in her post.

At the August meeting, Mayor Dominick distributed a 2016 audit report that listed suggestions to help improve the borough. Dominick highlighted what he deemed areas of concern, including:

• Invoices not marked as approved or paid.

• Several cash receipts not being deposited in a timely manner.

• Outstanding checks greater than 90 days.

Also on the report was a concern over inter-fund transfers relating to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. According to the accounting firm, a reimbursement check from WVSA in the amount of $21,875 was erroneously deposited into the general fund rather than the sewer fund.

In January, authorities raided Smith’s home and her accounting business in connection with alleged improprieties while she was treasurer for the Wyoming Free Library and Wyoming Hose Co. 1.

When contacted Wednesday, State Police said there was nothing new to report in their investigation.

Tamra Smith
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Tamra-Smith-photo.CMYK_-1.jpg.optimal.jpgTamra Smith

By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.