NEW YORK – A pile of violations and a huge number of unanswered questions were raised in a confidential correspondence in 2012 between an official of the St. Spyridon’s parish in NY and the accountant Tim Sherman from the firm of Cohen Greve & Company CPA. P.C.
Both the president of the parish council Steve Papadatos as well as Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, Chancellor of the Archdiocese told TNH in interviews that there was no problem with the finances.
Sherman however had written the following on August 16, 2012: “A full and complete forensic audit is not the engagement that we have with the Archdiocese. It was more of a segmented approach to see what we initially find. A full and complete forensic audit is an intense scrutiny of all matters financial and is very costly. With that in mind to finish the church and school, with onsite visits, we estimate a cost to you of an additional $20,000 to $25,000 provided that we get the complete cooperation of the church and access to all records requested. As for the rental real estate and ALMA, provided we get cooperation and access to records, we estimate the fee to be $15,000 to $20,000.”
Sherman refused to send the report to the St. Spyridon’s official telling him that “I cannot send you the report but the following are the highlight findings: 1. Mismanagement of entities cash accounts resulting in excessive overdraft charges. 2. Questionable transfer of funds from restoration account to school account 3. Questionable transfer of funds from real estate to replenish restoration account 4. Unexplained transfers from unknown accounts into the church account 5. Unexplained transfers from the restoration account to other accounts and improper use of restoration funds. 6. Inability to reconcile payroll to government forms 7. Questionable funding of the school by the operating account. Tim.”
The parish official on August 1st, urged Sherman to communicate with Funeral director Gregory Apostle. He wrote “suggest you speak with the Owner/Funeral Director of the Riverdale Funeral Home, Gregory Apostle.
Supposedly, due to Fr. Passias’ absence, the Church provided a substitute priest for a funeral service. Days after the service, Mr. Apostle gave an envelope (full pay for priest and/or the cash tip) to Fr. Passias so that he would pass it on to the substitute priest. Either Apostle followed up or the substitute priest contacted Apostle to inform him that he had never received anything.
Following a confrontation with Fr. Passias, Apostle went right into the Church office and told Katie Carlaftes, the church secretary, [paraphrasing]: “you tell that …[Fr. Passias] if he ever speaks to me like that again, I will sue him!””
In a P.S. to his note, the church official wrote to Sherman: “Why haven’t you gone on site yet? Is Fr. Passias still making excuses? If you want to see the truth unfold, we suggest you go to the Church and invite the Priest and all Parish Council members from 2008 -12 (30 people at most) on the same day, same building. Isolate Fr. Passias, record his responses to all relevant questions ie. who authorized online bank transfers? Who authorized check stamping? Who removed the financial controls in place for over 30 years? Who changed the process of opening mail? Where were the books kept? Who changed the signatories on the Bank accounts in December 2008? Who authorized changes in signatories in December 2008 when the first Parish Council meeting didn’t occur until late January 2010? Who caused over $20K in overdraft charges on over $170K of payroll? Who submits the ADP? Who authorized an increase in your pay (new car, increased monthly payment)? Who authorized credit card reimbursements? Who disbanded the Real Estate Committee (a UPR violation)? Why has the General Assembly motion, which passed over a year ago, to re-install the Real Estate Committee, been ignored? If it’s between him and anyone, he will sacrifice anyone …then bring in those he accused and play the tape…”
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