COLUMBUS — Findings for recovery totaling $7,684.74 were issued Tuesday against two Village of Woodmere employees who were overpaid.

The total included $6,437.50 against Treasurer Regina Greathouse-Owens and $1,247.24 against Fire Chief Gina Devito-Staub, following a review of the Cuyahoga County Village’s finances from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023.

The full report is available online at ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

Auditors determined that Greathouse-Owens received extra compensation over her regular wages for performing additional duties during a vacancy in the Village’s assistant treasurer position.

The additional compensation was OK’d by the Mayor Benjamin Holbert III but not allowed under Village ordinance. Greathouse-Owens and Holbert are jointly and severally liable for the resulting finding for recovery.

Devito-Staub was paid at a higher rate in 2023 after a wage increase was OK’d for other employees. However, auditors noted that the Village ordinance implementing the raises did not apply to Fire Department personnel.

Devito-Staub and Greathouse-Owens, as Village Treasurer, are jointly and severally liable for the resulting finding for recovery.

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The Auditor of State’s Office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.

Public Affairs
Contact: Marc Kovac
press@ohioauditor.gov