Radnor seeks funds from former manager

The treasurer of Radnor Township filed a surcharge judgment yesterday seeking $1.008 million from its former township manager, who was fired in April on accusations that he had paid bonuses without board permission.

David A. Bashore misused $377,762 in taxpayer money during his nine years as township manager, according to a forensic audit released last week. Along with the $151,500 he paid himself in bonuses, the audit alleges, Bashore used a township credit card for undocumented and personal expenses totaling $165,470 and altered documents detailing some of his purchases, an act that might be criminal.

The township also is seeking money that it says Bashore inappropriately paid to others, including $600,000 in bonuses to township employees, said Neil A. Morris, a lawyer with Archer & Greiner in Philadelphia, who is assisting the township in the recovery effort.

John Osborne, Radnor treasurer, filed the surcharge judgment at Delaware County Court, Morris said.

Bashore has denied misusing taxpayer money, saying the board authorized him to pay bonuses to himself and other employees, said his lawyer, Ronald Surkin.

On Monday, Bashore filed an invasion-of-privacy complaint against the township, seeking more than $50,000 in damages from the township as well as from Joseph Barbagallo, a certified public accountant, and Marcum L.L.P., who performed the forensic audit for the township, Surkin said.

The suit alleges the township invaded Bashore's privacy by including his tax returns in the audit report that was released and placed on the township Web site. Bashore also filed a negligence claim against Barbagallo and Marcum for posting the tax returns.