Oct 13, 2026 · 6 min · 6 segments
Whitestown officials are seeking state guidance on a possible expanded audit after more than 172 thousand dollars in Highway Department fuel purchases could not be properly accounted for…
The town of Whitestown is asking New York state officials whether a broader investigation is needed following a troubling audit of its highway department.
The Whitestown town board unanimously approved a letter to the state comptroller's office requesting guidance on whether additional auditing should be conducted in response to growing concerns from residents.
The move follows a state audit released in June that identified significant problems with how the highway department tracked fuel and motor oil.
According to the audit, highway superintendent Salvatore Granato failed to properly safeguard and account for those supplies.
Investigators found that more than $172,000 in fuel and motor oil purchases, representing 85% of purchases examined between January 2024 and October 2025, could not be properly accounted for because records were missing, incomplete, or unreliable.
Importantly, the audit did not establish that those supplies were stolen.
However, it warned that inadequate record-keeping and unrestricted access created opportunities for theft, misuse, or losses to go undetected.
Town Supervisor Sean Coletta has emphasized that no evidence of theft was found.
Still, residents want answers.
Several have questioned whether similar tracking problems could involve other highway department materials, including road salt, sand, stone, and gravel.
Concerns have also resurfaced about a previously reported incident involving possible road salt theft at the town highway garage.
Meanwhile, tensions between Coletta and Granado have become increasingly visible during public meetings.
Granado has suggested that the town board failed to address problems with fuel pump equipment.
Coletta disputes that explanation, arguing that the central issue is inventory accountability, which falls under the highway superintendent's responsibilities.
The town has already submitted a corrective action plan to the comptroller's office and has obtained vendor quotes for a computerized fuel tracking system.
But questions remain about oversight.
Because the highway superintendent is independently elected, town officials say their legal authority to directly supervise his operations is limited.
That is one reason the board is now seeking additional direction from the state.
In a separate development, Whitestown has approved new identification requirements for municipal vehicles.
Under the resolution, all town vehicles must display an approved town logo by December 31st.
Vehicles that fail to comply will be taken out of service until properly marked.
The town has taken steps to improve tracking and transparency, but whether the state recommends a more extensive audit remains to be seen.
For now, Whitestown officials say they are prepared to cooperate with any additional review.
The town of Whitestown is asking New York state officials whether a broader investigation is needed following a troubling audit of its highway department.
The Whitestown town board unanimously approved a letter to the state comptroller's office requesting guidance on whether additional auditing should be conducted in response to growing concerns from residents.
The move follows a state audit released in June that identified significant problems with how the highway department tracked fuel and motor oil.
According to the audit, highway superintendent Salvatore Granato failed to properly safeguard and account for those supplies.
Investigators found that more than $172,000 in fuel and motor oil purchases, representing 85% of purchases examined between January 2024 and October 2025, could not be properly accounted for because records were missing, incomplete, or unreliable.
Importantly, the audit did not establish that those supplies were stolen.
However, it warned that inadequate record-keeping and unrestricted access created opportunities for theft, misuse, or losses to go undetected.
Town Supervisor Sean Coletta has emphasized that no evidence of theft was found.
Still, residents want answers.
Several have questioned whether similar tracking problems could involve other highway department materials, including road salt, sand, stone, and gravel.
Concerns have also resurfaced about a previously reported incident involving possible road salt theft at the town highway garage.
Meanwhile, tensions between Coletta and Granado have become increasingly visible during public meetings.
Granado has suggested that the town board failed to address problems with fuel pump equipment.
Coletta disputes that explanation, arguing that the central issue is inventory accountability, which falls under the highway superintendent's responsibilities.
The town has already submitted a corrective action plan to the comptroller's office and has obtained vendor quotes for a computerized fuel tracking system.
But questions remain about oversight.
Because the highway superintendent is independently elected, town officials say their legal authority to directly supervise his operations is limited.
That is one reason the board is now seeking additional direction from the state.
In a separate development, Whitestown has approved new identification requirements for municipal vehicles.
Under the resolution, all town vehicles must display an approved town logo by December 31st.
Vehicles that fail to comply will be taken out of service until properly marked.
The town has taken steps to improve tracking and transparency, but whether the state recommends a more extensive audit remains to be seen.
For now, Whitestown officials say they are prepared to cooperate with any additional review.
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