Fairfield Officials Launch Probe Into Possible Credit Card Misuse

FAIRFIELD, CT — An investigation has been launched in Fairfield that is looking into the possible misuse of town American Express credit cards by government employees, according to officials.

The issue arose following a Freedom of Information request by a resident, former Representative Town Meeting member Dana Kery, who brought concerns over credit card usage to Board of Finance Chair Lori Charlton and member Christopher DeWitt.

"The resident alleged that credit cards appear to have been used by town employees in a way that was in conflict with town policies," Charlton said during a Board of Finance meeting last week.

Details as to which employees may be in question, or what charges may have been made, were not disclosed. Kery is a member of the town's Ethics Commission, but she made the request as a resident, according to Charlton.

"This has been going on for a couple of months, and my expectation is the investigation should be completed soon, and that the board will get an update once the issues are resolved," Charlton said.

In a statement to Patch, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said the investigation was launched as soon as became aware of the matter.

"Allegations of credit card misuse were brought to our attention and I immediately directed HR to open an investigation into the matter, which is currently ongoing," Kupchick said. "Upon completion of that investigation, the findings will be made public."

Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz said the allegations are "concerning," and she looks forward to hearing more information on the investigation in the future.

Kery could not immediately be reached for comment, but she reportedly told the Fairfield Citizen that she turned over the information to Kupchick in December.

During last week's Board of Finance meeting, member Jack Testani objected to Kery's name being made public, and also questioned by the full board had not been made aware of the investigation sooner.

Charlton said she and DeWitt were presented the information in their capacity as members of the board's Purchasing Policy Committee, and she did not have any information to share about the investigation.