Chester Asks Residents to Report 'Irregularities' After Tax Collector's Arrest

Just days after a Chester Borough employee was arrested on charges of official misconduct for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars at her previous job, officials are asking residents to look into their own financial dealings with the town.

In a letter to residents this week, Mayor Janet Hoven said an auditing group already in the process of going over the town’s 2014 records has now begun looking at this year’s records.

The audit comes after the June 4 arrest of Catherine Hammel, the borough’s tax collector, who allegedly stole more than $35,000 while in the same position in Watchung in 2013.

“If you believe any irregularities have occurred in your financial transactions with the borough, please contact Borough Administrator Valerie Egan,” Hoven said. Egan’s email address is vegan@chesterborough.org.

Hoven also said the borough is in the process of hiring a temporary tax collector.

The investigation is being handled solely by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and no Chester Borough official was involved in the investigation.

Nisivoccia, LLP is handling the auditing of Chester Borough’s municipal and financial records.