Former Kingston Fire Chief is Charged After NYS Audit

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A former fire chief in Ulster County's City of Kingston was charged following an audit by the New York State Comptroller. The audit alleges that the City of Kingston made $23,000 in improper payments to employees for unearned leave time.  

Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright said his office had received a referral from Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo concerning time and attendance issues with respect to former Fire Chief Richard Salzmann during the years 2009 through 2011. State auditors found that Salzmann was paid about $5,500 more than that to which he was entitled, while former Assistant Fire Chief Chris Rea received inappropriate payouts totaling $16,600. District Attorney Carnright said Salzmann was charged with four misdemeanor counts of second-degree offering a false instrument for filing. In the audit findings, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli noted the city was partly to blame, saying the errors occurred because the city had lax processes and relied on unverified, incomplete, and inaccurate records.