Margate Commission Meeting. AUG 6 2026
- Another tech glitch. No live ZOOM video of meeting. Recording posted on YouTube 8.7.26.
- Margate Audit & Fraud Incident: Resident raised questions regarding audit item [31:20]. Officials clarified that back in late 2025, city’s finance office was targeted in phishing/ACH scam [34:13]. Automated Clearing House.
- Detectives collaborated with FBI to freeze fraudulent account and recouped 100% of the funds. Almost $228K.
- Margate CFO Amy Stover started on May 7, 2026. Certified Municipal Finance Officer. Stover pay is $150 per hour. Part-time. Stover also Ventnor CFO. Why $5,000 annual stipend? Why not hire full-time Margate CFO?
- Payment made Nov 2025. Lisa McLaughlin was on family / medical leave.
- New comptroller failed to verify payment using phone call. ACH Automated Clearing House account not set up properly in August. Payment was made in November
- Detectives helped freeze account, work with FBI, and get entire amount back for Margate taxpayers. No arrests so far. Unlikely that perpetrator will be found.
- Towns should cut checks rather than use ACH, Automated Clearing House.
When scam was discovered, Margate PD and FBI recovered $227k in cash.
Other issues:
Ventnor Ave Parking Lot Project: Site of former gas station. Taxpayer funded. Why not paved yet? No ‘park-like’ setting as promised. Contamination concerns? Construction and surface paving improvements begin after summer season. Exxon’s contractor to conduct preliminary work on environmental monitoring wells in late August. Why is Exxon still involved?
Responding to Author
In response to parking complaints City acquires land and builds parking lot, yes taxpayer funded, nice to actually see taxes doing something. State grants were applied for, but denied.
Why then suggest spending more taxpayer money to pave it? I thought you wanted a “park-like setting”?
Leave the parking lot as is, it helps with storm water, once it’s paved you’ll complain about flooding on Ventnor Ave.
Exxon’s still involved because they’re paying for the clean up. You’d prefer taxpayers foot that bill?
Your style of “reporting” unfortunately hinders positive municipal action.
Mr Baylinson, Commission should just tell the truth. Don’t blame “can’t find someone to pave”. “Can’t find adequate bidder”. Most are OK with no-pave of parking lot. And that park-like setting promise was complete BS. Those with half a brain knew that gas station lot area was still contaminated. Chris, we love you. But geez. We all have eyes, ears and common sense. Please stay in your lane.
If you don’t want comments, don’t ask for them.
Who’s watching our money? Business Administrator? Commissioners? They’re quick to blame someone who wasn’t even working.
Selected information to cover up their lack of control and management. What else don’t we know about?
With all the new tax ratables, why did our real estate bills increase?
It’s the Margate way of doing business. Taxpayers are last.
The CFO who was out on family medical leave was blamed for the cyber-fraud, but Comptroller John Voigt, who was in charge of paying vendors and checking credentials, is not even mentioned?
Dave Elliot was comptroller at the time.