Westmoreland's fired deputy purchasing director testifies courthouse boss initiated alleged theft scheme

Westmoreland County’s former deputy director of purchasing told a judge her boss said he and his five department employees were authorized for additional pay in August 2023.

Kristen Coyne claimed she didn’t learn those pay hikes had actually been rejected by county officials until both she and her boss were suspended a year later. They were fired in October.

Coyne testified under immunity during a preliminary hearing Thursday for former purchasing department Director Kristopher Cardiff.

“Kris came into my office after the meeting with (Human Resources Director Alexis Bevan and Director of Financial Administration Meghan McCandless) and said they approved the seven hours after a two-week time trial because we had more work,” Coyne testified.

Coyne, as the department’s payroll supervisor, implemented time card changes to reflect that she, Cardiff and four union staffers were to be paid for working seven hours each day, a 30-minute daily increase.

“Kris never said that seven hours wasn’t approved,” Coyne testified.

Investigators last month charged Cardiff, 47, with three felony counts of theft and a single misdemeanor charge of misapplication of entrusted property. Greensburg District Judge Chris Flanigan ruled the case against Cardiff can proceed to trial.

Police said Cardiff received more than $5,400 in additional pay for a year, while Coyne earned about $3,600 extra through the payroll change that extended their workday. Four unionized department staffers also earned additional pay totaling another $800.

Coyne was not charged.

McCandless testified that, including benefits, paid time off and other compensation, the total amount of the alleged theft reached as much as $20,000.

McCandless said the pay discrepancy was discovered during preparations for the 2025 budget when finance staff noticed the purchasing department’s current payroll was above yearly projections.

Cardiff, she testified, made a formal request in July 2023 to the county’s salary board to shift his staff’s workday from 6.5 to 7 hours a day to account for additional work related to new chores that required daily travel from the courthouse in Greensburg to new human services offices at Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood.

The purchasing department oversees all equipment and supplies acquisitions for the county. It also operates the courthouse mailroom and printing services. 

Bevan testified the salary board, which consists of the three county commissioners and Controller Jeff Balzer, did not approve the pay changes requested by Cardiff. She said Cardiff was notified by email after the board failed to vote on the proposal in October 2023.

“I contacted Mr. Cardiff through email that his request was not approved. It was not on an agenda,” Bevan testified.

Cardiff, who continues to serve on Trafford council, was hired as the county’s purchasing director in November 2022. He earned an annual salary of $70,314 in that role.

Cardiff has denied the theft allegations.

Defense attorney David Colecchia argued that McCandless and Bevan authorized Cardiff to institute the payroll changes.

“We continue to dispute the charges and emphasize Mr. Cardiff is to be considered innocent until such time as a trial,” Colecchia said following Thursday’s hearing.