LACKAWAXEN TOWNSHIP -- Lackawaxen Township officials say it should never happen again.
They were joined by state police at a township meeting Monday night to explain to taxpayers how $220,000 was allegedly swiped from the community in the Hawley area.
"This situation is one where obviously it is a trauma to the community because public trust has been violated," said Lt. Chris Paris of the state police out of the Blooming Grove barracks.
Former township secretary Shawn Roe is accused of stealing the money over a 10-year period by writing checks to herself and by using a PayPal account.
She was fired last year.
Investigators said it took a time-consuming audit to uncover all the stolen money.
Folks in the community showed up at the township meeting to ask questions, give their opinions, and offer advice.
"In my opinion, there's not enough oversight here before the final payment is made," said Dorothy Kerkowski of Lackawaxen Township.
"Do you intend to set up different kinds of audits, ones that really go in depth to what's going on in any organization? I'm talking about moving forward," asked another person in the crowd.
A township supervisor now handles the money. There are filing cabinets that hold financial records and a new safe.
Supervisors also said all checks will be signed in public at monthly meetings.
"We're looking into doing more, but it's a matter of working with the auditors and they have given us a list of what we should do and what we shouldn't do and that's what we're following," said Township Supervisor Bob Cocchi.
"I think we can look to the community or look to some committee, audit committee, to help us as a township to implement these changes and make things more transparent," said Township Supervisor Mike Mancino.
Township supervisors also said they expect to get back all the stolen money.
Shawn Roe is out on bail until her next court appearance in Pike County.