Lantana officials reject anonymous letters accusing mismanagement, say auditors saw no new issues

The Lantana Town Manager told the council on July 24 that the town received three unsigned letters dated June 30 alleging financial misappropriation and other misconduct but that the documents offered no specific evidence. "They were anonymous, rambling and referenced nothing specific," the Town Manager said, adding that copies were forwarded to the town attorney and the contracted auditors for review.

The town manager said the auditors asked follow-up questions but were not performing additional procedures as a result of the letters. He also stressed the town has internal controls and a record of clean audits, noting the town has earned a Government Finance Officers Association recognition over multiple years. "We have several internal controls in place to mitigate that kind of stuff," he said. Council members said any substantive concerns should be submitted with contact information or routed through the proper oversight channels so they can be investigated.

Council acted on routine business before discussing the letters: a council member moved to approve the workshop agenda and the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. The Mayor and town manager agreed that substantive action on any of the issues raised in the anonymous letters would require a future regular meeting where the council could take formal action.