By Angela Hatton
Paris, TN – A former Paris, Tennessee, city recorder is under investigation for malfeasance and misappropriation of funds. Interim City Manager Carl Holder says officials dismissed Lisa Rowlett in mid-January. Rowlett had worked for the city for over fifteen years, but had been employed as recorder for only about a year. Holder says she had access to almost all the city's financial records.
"Not only is it a matter of the misappropriation, there is also many instances where records have not been kept up to date or very incomplete, which were part of her responsibility. It means that the staff is working overtime to get everything back up to where it should be."
Holder says the accounting errors have delayed the city's budgeting process for next fiscal year. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations will look into Rowlett's records. The district attorney will decide whether to proceed with legal action.