NORWICH – The City of Norwich has been under audit by the New York State Comptroller's Office for months, yet no elected official has mentioned the issue to the public and regular employees have been ordered not to speak publicly about it by Mayor Christine Carnrike.

A review of the city council's meeting minutes over the last several months did not reveal the audit as a topic for discussion or concern on any agenda, nor was it discussed at meetings.

The city clerk's office confirmed Thursday the topic had not yet been discussed publicly. No council member asked about the audit could recall a public discussion. Officials said the audit began before November last year.

Officials asked about the audit, before an unrelated public hearing Tuesday over a dismissed animal law, declined to comment on the audit, except to imply it was “routine” or “not a big deal.”

Despite the implication that the audit is routine, it remains unclear. “Routine” is a word State Comptroller Deputy Press Secretary Tania Lopez declined to use or confirm when asked directly about it last week.

“We are looking at all departments,” she responded.

The last time the state audited the city was in February 2013, and it had focused on computer based infrastructure and technology.

“This process starts in the regional office and may involve any number of items such as a desk analysis of financial information, length of time since the last audit, items in the news and or any information we might get from taxpayers or local officials,” said Lopez. “After we start the audit we continue our risk assessment process by interviewing various local officials and taking a closer look at departmental operations before honing in on our audit scope.”

Addressing a previous story by The Evening Sun, Council President and 1 Ward Alderman Matt Caldwell went on the record to refute the audit was looking at issues relating to the dismissal of the former human resources director in 2018. The investigation, along with the concerns and costs that led to her ultimate resignation, were never revealed by the city.

Caldwell said the the city wasn't talking about the audit because it was still in progress.

Sources working inside the city shared information, but asked not to have their names revealed out of fear of retaliation. Those sources reported that auditors were focusing on the department of public works and the fire department.

The city has acknowledged the fire department is facing major fiscal challenges. The Common Council authorized budget transfers in early 2018 to cover costs of overtime from 2017, including an additional $217,749.97 to pay fire department personnel.