Recordpub.com - Mantua ex-clerk accused of theft: Allegedly stole village funds

ElectHeadshot101807RAV_15 Betsy M. Woolf

By Dave O’Brien

Record-Courier staff writer

A Mantua woman who for 10 years was the elected clerk/treasurer of the village of Mantua was indicted Tuesday by a Portage County grand jury on a total of six felonies and misdemeanors for allegedly stealing village funds while in office.

Betsy M. Woolf, 60, of 4755 Glenwood St., was arrested Tuesday night and booked into the Portage County jail, accused of felony theft and tampering with records.

Two counts of the six-count indictment allege that on or about Jan. 4, 2008 and Feb. 22, 2008, Woolf used her position as clerk/treasurer to commit a theft. Both are fifth-degree felonies. The second count of the indictment, a fourth-degree felony, alleges the theft was in excess of $500 but less than $5,000.

The three counts of tampering with records, all misdemeanors, accuse Woolf of trying to cover up the alleged thefts by manipulating or destroying records.

Woolf was the elected clerk/treasurer of Mantua from 1998 until April 2008 after being defeated in the November 2007 election by current officeholder Jenny August.

At a March 18, 2008, meeting, while Woolf was still clerk/treasurer, Mantua Mayor Donna Hawkins read a proclamation in Woolf’s honor and presented her with an engraved clock “for her dedicated service to the village,” according to minutes of the meeting on the village Web site.

In a statement released Wednesday, Hawkins said the village found some funds were unaccounted for while going over its books last year. Ohio State Auditor Mary Taylor’s office was contacted to go over the village’s financial records and the village “turned over all available information to them,” according to Hawkins.

“The state auditor’s office has not provided us with the results of their audit as of yet, therefore we do not know what their findings will be,” Hawkins said.

Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci would not say how much money Woolf is accused of stealing, saying those facts would be presented at trial. His office will prosecute the charges based on the initial investigation by the state auditors, he said.

Mantua currently is in “fiscal watch,” according to Taylor’s office. Another audit is scheduled to take place soon, Hawkins said.

“I’m confident we’ll come out of that” with positive news, she said when reached by phone Wednesday.

Woolf also is the former clerk/treasurer for the Mantua-Shalersville Fire District, which serves the village of Mantua and Mantua and Shalersville townships, but was replaced this summer, Fire Chief Joseph Stoneberg said.

The theft accusations are not related to the operations of the fire department, he said,

Woolf posted a $20,000 personal recognizance bond Wednesday. She is scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 by Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman.

She is represented by Cleveland attorney Stuart Lippe, according to court records.

Stoneberg said he and other fire department personnel have worked with Woolf “for a long time” and “wish her the best.”

“Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

28.	Posted by dp November 1, 2009
	Everything starts with communication . . . Council approves the bills to be paid as presented by the village fiscal officer. Council also approves the budget and appropriations. (Just as trustees approve the budget and appropriations) The structures are already in place. We're now in the 21st century. In the 16 counties being considered as a NEOhio region there are 650+ government entities. A study was commissioned to determine the cost of these governments and when it was released a year ago June - it couldn't be determined. This effort is being steered now by the Mayor's Association. My problem with this - it does not consider everyone - there are no mayors in townships and a large part of the area is unrepresented. When Businesses, Individuals, NonProfits and Governments work together, communities thrive. The 4 basic cornerstones of a balanced community. Not my idea - it's the National Civic League - they've been around for a 100+ years. Portage County has 18 townships, 6 villages, 4 cities & 11 school districts. For the sake of conversation, let's consider the Crestwood School District that has 3 townships and 2 villages. This could be a sort of 'mini-regionalism' thing. Egos do get in the way, but as residents of each local community and the school district as a larger community, we can urge egos to be left at the door. Public records and public meetings, and adherence to those laws, provides the skeleton on which to build. 'Attack the topic, not the person' was a suggestion from a city councilman as a way to intelligently and passionately discuss items. There's far too much attack of personalities, IMHO. If this district were to list its assets, I think we would all be pleasantly surprised at our potential. The egos need to be checked at the door and everyones opinion has worth. If we start respecting each other a bit, we will learn we can passionately discuss anything, arrive at a plan of action, implement it and continually monitor it and make corrections as necessary. The minutes of every public body should be readily available along with budget info. It's just a start. There will be a public records and meetings seminar - the 3 hour course required by all elected officials as of 1/1/2008 - at the Mantua Shalersville Fire Department on November 18 from noon - 3:15. It is being put on by the Auditor of State's office. Registration is only required if you want a certificate, but is being requested so there will be enough books and materials on hand for everyone. I'm the person taking registrations...

27.	Posted by thinblueline November 1, 2009
	DP, What I meant by more controls was the council and the mayor becoming more involved in the paying of the bills rather than just passing the checks around the council table to be signed. I agree with your stance on public records and meeting minutes becoming more accessible but frankly most of the public doesn't care. They are apathetic and trust that their elected officials are doing the right thing. Most only become directly involved when the law or rule directly effects them, i.e. a zoning law that will negatively affect them. Your comment about government and the extension of bounderies is interesting. Ideally, I agree with you but practically I disagree. There are so many districts, villages, boards, etc. that can't agree on basic fundamental issues. One example is the Windham Village/Twp. fight over fire coverage that was just recently settled. This process was ongoing for MANY years and finally the egos left the picture due to new faces and common sense has prevailed. It's too bad that more of this doesn't exist. I don't see this happening on the county level any time soon. Portage County desparetly needs centralized dispatch (as you know)but tthey fart around with all of these other options while county wastes money on other worthless projects. The answers are so simple and they make it so hard. Oh well.

24.	Posted by dp November 1, 2009
	MyGirl - Politicians get their 'hands' into the pockets of taxpayers through their ability to levy taxes, create fees and impose fines. The public sector does not operate the same as the private sector because some of the checks and balances in place have to do with the public's right to know. That's where the public records and meetings come in. tbl, I don't think more controls are needed or necessary - but I do think we, as members of the public, need to be more watchful of our governments. Starting on the local level - cities, villages and townships. Putting "more enhanced" rules is place is one of the problems we've got going on right now... There ought to be a law!!! You've heard it before - how much is that law, policy, procedure, action going to cost? Cash for Clunkers - each Clunker cost the American public $23,000. Someone has to fill out forms and administer the program. . . As far as GOVERNMENT planning - it needs to go beyond the territorial borders of township, village, city to include county and region. When Business, Individuals, NonProfits and Governments work together, communities (however defined) thrive. It all starts with communication... We don't have to agree with each other, and there in lies much potential. MyGirl - The definitions weren't meant for you, sorry if I offended you. A good place to start: Public Records and Meetings.