CVB board to turn financial findings over to police, prosecutor

In a meeting that featured extensive discussion of rewriting bylaws, travel policies and other minutia of re-establishing the Putnam County Convention and Visitor Bureau, the CVB board dropped one potentially big bombshell late in its monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

The results of a recently-completed financial examination will be turned over to the Putnam County Prosecutor and to Indiana State Police for further review.

Charlene Brown of Char's Accounting Service made her report to the board in September regarding the financial examination following a reorganization that included the reappointment of all board members in May and the June dismissal of former executive director Karla Lawless and assistant director Dianna Love.

On a motion by board member Eric Wolfe, the board voted 9-0 to turn the examination over to the authorities. All board members present voted for the measure, with members Page Cotton and Don Gedert not present on Tuesday.

At Brown's urging, most details of the examination have not been made public. Instead, the board has reviewed much of her findings in executive session, given that they involve personnel matters and potential litigation.

The public portion of the report from Brown contained a number of policy suggestions for the board, but nothing bordering on potential criminal activity.

Among the suggestions in Brown's public report are recommendations to adopt clearer policies regarding travel, credit cards, meetings and what events should be attended to promote tourism.

Brown also expressed concerns with minutes of the previous CVB board, indicating that transparency seemed to be a problem.

"Often it seemed as though decisions were made in executive sessions and were not brought up for a vote at regular meetings," Brown wrote.

Per Indiana Code, votes cannot be made during executive sessions.

With Brown's full examination still private at this time, it's unclear exactly what portions could be of interest to law enforcement officials.

In other business:

* Consultant Lynne Fuller, who is overseeing day-to-day operations of the CVB during reorganization, discussed the hiring of a permanent executive director with the board.

A job description, salary and job postings for the position were discussed at length.

The board has previously expressed a desire to have the position filled by the end of 2015.

* Meeting times have changed for the November through January meetings. The board will still meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the CVB office, 12 W. Washington St., Greencastle, but the meetings will be one hour earlier than normal at 6 p.m.