Following an audit and a police investigation, the Schuylkill Conservation District terminated its fiscal technician.
The county commissioners approved the termination of Virginia Kunigonis, Branch Township, at a work session Wednesday.
Kunigonis had an hourly salary of $19.13. Her termination went into effect Wednesday.
The reason behind the termination was "gross misconduct."
State police started investigating the Conversation District last month following a 2012 audit that revealed three "irregularities" in accounting and internal controls.
According to the audit from Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC, Harrisburg, none of the examined expenditures had the district manager's signature for approval, as required. As a result, those funds may have been misappropriated.
The audit also said the county agency did not properly segregate financial duties or record all its transactions.
While the audit lists the amount in question as "undeterminable," County Controller Christy Joy said the initial police report listed more than $200,000. However, Joy said he has not yet been allowed to review all the evidence and authorities have not been able to say how much, if any, money has been taken.
Elizabeth Hinkel, the agency's district manager, has said the money allegedly involved appears to be district-administered, meaning state and federal funds as opposed to county.
Hinkel has said the district was reviewing files May 30 when they discovered what appeared to be fraudulent signatures in folders that appeared to document fraudulent activity. She met with county officials on June 2 and police were contacted that day.
As of Wednesday, no charges have been filed against Kunigonis. Her position will be filled at a later date.
In March, similar findings in an audit led police to investigate Clerk of Courts Stephen M. Lukach Jr., who has held the office for 27 years. Lukach resigned a month later amid allegations he had used thousands of dollars in public money for personal purchases.
Charges have yet to filed against Luckach.
"I think you are seeing a different style in the controller's office than ever before and it is definitely something we support," commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said.
Also at the work session, the commissioners approved the appointment of Joseph Scribbick, Minersville, to solid waste and recycling coordinator. He will start Monday with an annual salary of $34,435.
The Schuylkill County Courthouse will be closed Friday for Independence Day. The commissioners' retirement board will meet July 9 immediately following the public meeting.
