Report: Copenhagen Fire Department bank statements inspected by village officials

LEWIS COUNTY- The village of Copenhagen has recently been examining a number of bank statements from its fire department and officials are raising a few concerns.

Last month, the village board voted to dissolve the department in the wake of its inconsistency for keeping its financial books. It’s been reported that none of the department’s money was ever stolen or, but just not properly kept track of.

“We have bank statements like you’ve seen, but there aren’t copies of the deposit tickets or the cleared checks. There’s no information in the memo lines,” Village Attorney Candace Randall told reporters from WWNY-TV.

Mayor Mark Souva raised the question with reporters whether if all of the tax payer funds are being used for fire protection. The fire department answered Monday that it has paid for numerous things with its own funds and is waiting to be reimbursed.

“As far as any money this year, any taxpayers’ money from this year from each town that we contract with, the village still has it in their coffer. It hasn’t even paid one bill for this year and we’ve submitted plenty of bills to them,” said Fire Chief T.J. Williams.

There is a petition going around and if enough signatures are collected, the disbandment could be brought up for a public vote.