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After a year of investigation and speculation, the case of former Whitehall town clerk Janet Jillson is headed for a grand jury.
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Kortright said that he plans to bring the matter of Jillson, who has been at the center of a New York State Comptroller’s audit which found improprieties in the town clerk’s office, before the grand jury within the next two weeks.
Jillson has asked to be present and speak during the proceedings.
The new York State Comptroller’s office conducted an investigation of the clerks office over the next several months, determining that over $92,000 was “diverted” by Jillson. The report also states that Jillson had repaid almost $65,000 of the money that was “diverted.”
Jillson resigned her position as Whitehall town clerk less than one year ago, a month after being re-elected to serve her third term in that position for the town of Whitehall.
Whitehall village police chief Matthew Dickinson said that he has not talked with Kortright recently.
“We have not talked in the last week-and-a-half,” said Dickinson. “All of the investigation that we have handled so far was turned over the state Comptroller’s office, and the comptroller handed those things over to the District Attorney’s office.”
Dickinson said that the village police department is currently not handling any parts of the investigation until they receive instruction from Kortright.
“We are really waiting on the DA’s office to act on it,” said Dickinson. “Apparently, he plans on running this through the Grand Jury and then he will probably fax up to us all or any warrants for arrest that come as a result of any indictment the Grand Jury may hand down.”
Whitehall town supervisor Vernon Scribner said that he is hopeful that the matter would be resolved in the courts soon.
“I hope that they will get this done,” said Scribner. “I’ll be glad when this is all done with so everyone can get settled up and get this off the burner so everyone can move on.”
Scribner said that he felt the district attorney has not been able to work on thecase with the speed some had hoped for because of the other items on his docket.
“They had some major trials like the murder trial in Fort Edward (Putnam drunk driving crash) and they had to assist on a case in Warren County,” said Scribner.
Scribner said that at this moment, no members of the town board have been called to testify at a Grand Jury proceeding.
“I am not aware of anyone that has been called at this time,” he said.
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