The Carmel City Council conducted a special meeting on Tuesday evening to investigate the actions of Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley after she fired Director of Internal Controls, Ann Bingman.
Pauley
Carmel is currently undergoing its annual State Board of Accounts audit, and council members are concerned due to the crucial role Bingman played in the audit.
Bingman, who worked as the city’s Director of Internal Controls since February 2016, believes her termination was politically motivated, as Pauley has been a supporter of Mayor Brainard’s challenger, Fred Glynn in the May 7 Republican primary.
Bingman says she was “troubled” by tasks Pauley asked her to perform. Bingman says she believes they were linked to doing research for the political adversaries of the Mayor.
According to Bingman, further evidence is when Pauley previously saw her talking with City of Carmel Employee Benefits Manager Sue Wolfgang, a current candidate for Carmel City Clerk, about city business, Pauley accused her of “conversing with the enemy.”
“As finance chair, I want to assure taxpayers that their elected city council will do everything in its power to ensure the clerk-treasurer stands by her promises to complete the audits and physical inventory in a timely manner,” said Carmel Councilor and Finance Chair Sue Finkam. “This is a key piece of transparent governance, to which we are committed.”
In addition to controversy within the clerk’s office, Pauley recently went public with harassment allegations against Mayor Jim Brainard.
Pauley alleges Brainard created a toxic work environment after she rejected the mayor’s invitation to accompany him on a trip to Rome.
City officials said Tuesday’s council meeting was not directed at Pauley, but was held to determine who would handle duties as CPA after Bingman’s termination.