Council agrees to cover audit‑found retirement contributions for library employees

Lambertville council members on the record agreed to address back payments to the state’s defined contribution retirement program (DCRP) after an audit found required employee and employer contributions were not remitted for several part‑time library employees dating as far back as 2013.

The mayor explained the city administered the library payroll from about 2013 until December 2022 when the library assumed payroll responsibilities; the DCRP requires an employee contribution (5.5 percent pretax) and an employer match (3 percent). The mayor said the total due is “just over $33,000” and later specified $33,251.55 as the working figure the council used to set commitments.

Council discussion focused on who bears responsibility and on systems failures that allowed the oversight to persist multiple years and through multiple audits. One councilmember urged the city to “own up” to its part and to support the library, calling the library “the backbone of our community.” Others said they wanted to investigate how auditors and internal handoffs missed the problem for years.

Council voted to incorporate the past DCRP payments into the 2026 budget and to work with the library to make the payments. The mayor and staff said the city will resume some payroll administration tasks and that going forward deductions and employer contributions will be made; the council also discussed potential changes to internal controls, HR capacity and audit oversight to prevent recurrence.

Library board representatives who spoke during public comment thanked the council for addressing the payments and asked that future audits and auditor selection be reviewed.

The motion to provide for the back payments carried on a voice vote; city staff will follow up with a report on allocation and the mechanics for remitting past contributions, and council members signaled an intent to review audit processes and internal handoffs.