Treasurer takes over water board finances

JOHNSTOWN — The city in August froze the financial bank assets of the city Water Department and its Water Board, instead transferring the duties of overseeing of water accounts to the office of City Treasurer Michael Gifford. The move comes ahead of an important Nov. 3 citywide referendum in the city calling for abolishment of the Water Board. Board President Michael Capparello said today his board discovered recently the move through a letter from NBT Bank, and he is alleging the fiscal move was done deliberately to influence the Nov. 3 vote. “It’s a bullying tactic so we ...