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Chester controller flags three accounts and seeks finance access; receiver says $329,000 is police forfeiture funds
Summary
City Controller told council she recently obtained three months of statements and flagged one account whose statement is mailed to a non-city address and a savings account with about $329,000 whose purpose is unclear; Receiver VJ Kapoor said the $300‑plus‑thousand account holds forfeiture dollars tied to the police department and pledged to provide documents requested by the controller.
At the June 24 Chester council meeting, the elected city controller delivered a three‑month review of city accounts and raised access and transparency concerns, asking the finance office and receivership staff to meet and clarify several items.
The controller said she had only recently received bank statements despite repeated requests and identified three city accounts under review. She flagged that one checking account’s statement is being mailed to a non‑city address and said she was seeking supporting documentation for several higher‑dollar debit‑card transactions to ensure proper reconciliation with department budgets. She also reported a savings account with “about a $329,000 balance” and said she did not know what revenues or earmarks support that balance.
Council members asked whether the controller had the opportunity to consult with the CFO or receivership staff. The controller said she had submitted requests but had not been invited into ongoing finance discussions and asked that the CFO, receiver and her office meet to resolve outstanding questions.
Speaking in public comment, Receiver VJ Kapoor addressed the controller’s concerns and offered additional context. “With respect to the $300 some thousand account, that is forfeiture dollars that is with the police department,” Kapoor said, and he said his office and the CFO will provide requested information. He also described efforts to obtain an ethics policy from the Chester Water Authority meeting for public review and urged more transparency from other authorities.
Councilors recommended scheduling a meeting among the controller, the CFO and the receiver to resolve outstanding document requests and to clarify account purposes. No formal actions—such as an audit order—were taken at the meeting; the issues were left for follow-up between the controller’s office, finance staff and receivership officials.
