NORTH BRUNSWICK — An independent review of the three North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Companies is going to be conducted in response to a fire official who admitted embezzlement.
Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack and trustees from each fire company met on Sept. 3 in response to the guilty plea on Sept. 2 by township Fire Marshal Craig Snediker, who was the treasurer of both the North Brunswick Fire Department and North Brunswick Fire Co. 3, to the embezzlement of at least $89,000 from Fire Co. 3.
“Last week’s revelations have been a shock to us all. We owe the public a full accounting of what went wrong and our assurance to them that we are taking steps to ensure that this circumstance is not repeated,” Womack said.
The township’s external auditor, Andrew Hodulik, a partner in the Highland Park accounting firm Hodulik & Morrison, will be initiating a complete financial review of the accounting records of the three independent companies. He will review the present financial records and current accounting procedures of each company to ensure that any deficiencies cited are addressed.
“It’s double checking,” said Womack, who clarified that Snediker is not suspected of tampering with funds from anywhere other than Company 3.
“One of the important things — from the first minutes we learned about this — is that we have to make absolutely sure for ourselves and our residents that every dollar someone gives to the fire companies goes to firefighting needs. Keeping the public’s trust is paramount. That’s why we’ve taken the steps of making an auditor available to all the fire companies and making sure the fire companies are aware they have our support in doing everything possible to make sure the checks have been put in place to make sure this never happens again.
“The goal is to keep the trust because it is the people’s contributions that allow us to have volunteer fire companies.”
Each fire company operates and raises funds independently, but does receive $60,000 per year from the township. The township also pays for expenses such as insurance for equipment, most of the utilities in each building, generators, the radio system and breathing packs.
Since the firefighters are 100 percent volunteer, officials want to make sure residents are not disheartened by one man’s crime.
“We don’t want the residents and the businesses in the township to overlook or feel they shouldn’t be supporting these [volunteers] in doing what they do,” said Business Administrator Robert Lombard.
“This was a single individual and not representative in any way of the character of our fire department,” Womack added.
Since each fire company lost most of its equipment and gear in July’s massive warehouse blaze on Livingston Avenue, firefighters are raising funds to replace any items not covered by their insurance company. Any resident wishing to donate may contact their local fire company, or call Womack’s office at 732-247-0922, ext. 200.