Westmoreland County fires purchasing managers after payroll irregularities discovered

Westmoreland County commissioners fired the director and assistant director of the county’s purchasing department Thursday over alleged payroll irregularities.

Authorities suspended Purchasing Director Kristopher Cardiff and his deputy, Kristen Coyne, on Aug. 15 after allegations surfaced that they approved — without authorization — additional pay for themselves and the department’s four other staffers.

“Their actions were brazen and egregious and were referred to the District Attorney’s Office,” Commissioner Ted Kopas said.

Commissioners didn’t comment further on the firings.

Cardiff, in an email sent to TribLive last month, denied the allegations. Cardiff also is Trafford Council president.

The District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

For Cardiff, who earned an annual salary of $70,314, the extra pay amounted to more than $5,300 since last August, according to county records. Coyne received more than $3,600 in additional pay on top of her annual salary of about $47,000, the records showed.

The department’s four unionized clerks also received additional pay over the past 12 months, according to payroll records from the county controller’s office. Those employees were not disciplined. They remain on the job and will not have to repay any money, Controller Jeffrey Balzer said.

The purchasing department buys supplies for county offices and oversees the courthouse mailroom and print shop. It will continue to be overseen by the county’s fiscal office until new administrators are hired, commissioners said.