Buckhannon City Council received a response from an outside investigation requested by city Recorder/Treasurer Nancy Shobe regarding allegations made against her by Councilman Dave Thomas.

During a July 2 meeting Thomas made several accusations against Shobe as an employee of the city of Buckhannon as treasurer for the city and utility boards. Thomas' claims stemmed from extra pay raises given to some employees during the months of February and March 2008.

Council met and approved a 3 percent across-the-board increase for all city employees which took effect July 1, 2008. In executive session during a special council meeting Nov. 20, 2008, council was informed by Mayor Kenny Davidson that nine city officials received an additional increase in salaries beyond the 3 percent that was approved.

At council's Sept. 5 meeting, Shobe read aloud a letter she had prepared regarding the comments made by Thomas two months prior.

After reading her letter, Shobe requested an investigation be conducted concerning the accusations and that Thomas be required to name specific instances where she had violated her responsibilities.

City Attorney Dave McCauley on Thursday presented council with a response from the state Attorney General's office regarding the investigation. McCauley said since the last council meeting, he has undertook several steps respecting the council's request for the West Virginia Attorney General's office inquiry into allegations raised by Thomas against Shobe. Thomas has continued to assert that Shobe breached fiduciary responsibilities respecting the 2008 pay raises given to certain supervisors.

McCauley said he had spoken by telephone with senior Assistant Attorney General Ron Brown, who, while expressing doubt about the Attorney General office's authority to consider such local matters - governmental matters such as this - suggested that his colleague, Dawn E. Warfield, former and longtime director of the Opinions Division for the Attorney General's office who now directs the Appellate Division of the Attorney General's Office, handle the situation.

Warfield responded, dismissing that characterization, stating that it sounded to her as though the treasurer had been only performing the proper functions of her job. There has never been any allegation of criminal activity or fraud on the part of the city treasurer. There has not been any accusations of collaborating for personal benefit by the city treasurer, according to the letter.

The letter went on to state that Shobe "does not appear to have acted unethically in any manner. There has been no crime committed, so the Upshur County prosecutor's office maintains no jurisdiction concerning this matter.

"I recommend that the matter be considered as concluded," Warfield wrote.

Following a short discussion by council, Shobe requested that council give her a vote of confidence. A motion made by Jerry Henderson, seconded by Pam Cuppari, with all members - with the exception of Thomas, who abstained - calling for the confidence vote.

In other business, council:

- Received a report from Water Department Manager Burl Smith on the cause of the water advisory notice that was issued on Oct. 19.

The water treatment plant had to address an internal electrical problem forcing a shutdown as it was unable to operate in any capacity until the problem was fixed, Smith said.

The issue started as the plant was idle the night of Oct. 18 until the following morning. A power loss alarm was initiated by the automatic caller system to plant operators around 5 a.m. Oct. 19 when the main breaker switch was tripped and would not reset.

The system was completely restored by 2:30 p.m. and the water conservation advisory was lifted at 3:30 p.m.

Smith thanked all the water customers throughout the county for their patience and corporation during this episode.

- Approved $1,000 grant match for the Historical Landmarks Commission.

- Approved a proclamation declaring the month of November as Pancreatic Cancer Month.

Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of each month at Buckhannon City Hall.