Associated Press Published

Parkersburg to Study Audit After Ethics Complaints Dismissed

An aerial view of downtown Parkersburg.

Parkersburg officials are preparing to meet with state auditors to discuss the recent investigation into the city’s finances in the wake of a controversy surrounding the city’s former mayor and his fiscal management.

The News and Sentinel reports that city officials will meet Monday with representatives from the West Virginia Auditor’s Office for an exit conference on the audit of the fiscal year running from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015.

The audit is a standard procedure, but will be closely examined given the fact that ex-mayor Bob Newell retired in June after being accused of misusing city funds.

In an order dated Friday, the West Virginia Ethics Commission dismissed complaints against Newell, finding no probable cause to believe that Newell violated any prohibition of the ethics act.