DUNBAR, W.Va. -- Mayor Roger Wolfe told skeptical Dunbar City Council members the city is better off financially than ever at the council's meeting Monday night.

Wolfe reported that the city's budget contained about $1.2 million as of June 30, the end of the fiscal year. He wanted to dispel rumors the city is operating in the red.

The mayor also told the council the city needs to comply with a state auditor request for more detail in the city's unencumbered budget projections.

"Council wants to portray that I have spent all of the city's money," Wolfe said after the meeting.

Wolfe and council members are awaiting a ruling from a 3-judge panel that is considering a petition to remove him from office filed by a majority of council members. That dispute centers around powers granted to various city officials.

Councilwoman Connie Boardman, Finance Committee chairwoman, said she had never been made aware of the request by the auditor's office.

She then questioned Wolfe about whether a $310,000 certificate of deposit had been cashed and transferred to the city's general account without the council's knowledge.

After the meeting, Wolfe said he believed a CD might have been cashed in 2005 with approval from Treasurer Ron Rowley. Wolfe said he had no knowledge of money from the CD being transferred. Rowley has been ill and did not attend the meeting.

Boardman called for an emergency Finance Committee meeting to investigate the matter and attempt to meet the auditors prior to the July 31 deadline.

In other business, Police Chief Earl Whittington reported that four candidates for police officer positions qualified to be hired after testing and will train at the West Virginia State Police Academy in September. If all complete training and are hired, it will be the first time in 20 years the department has been fully staffed with uniformed officers, Whittington said.

The Council also approved Wolfe's request to purchase more than $11,000 worth of recycling bags to distribute free to Dunbar residents. Wolfe said his office has been inundated with requests for the bags in recent months. The bags will be distributed to residents quarterly.

DUNBAR, W.Va. -- Mayor Roger Wolfe told skeptical Dunbar City Council members the city is better off financially than ever at the council's meeting Monday night.

Wolfe reported that the city's budget contained about $1.2 million as of June 30, the end of the fiscal year. He wanted to dispel rumors the city is operating in the red.

The mayor also told the council the city needs to comply with a state auditor request for more detail in the city's unencumbered budget projections.

"Council wants to portray that I have spent all of the city's money," Wolfe said after the meeting.

Wolfe and council members are awaiting a ruling from a 3-judge panel that is considering a petition to remove him from office filed by a majority of council members. That dispute centers around powers granted to various city officials.

Councilwoman Connie Boardman, Finance Committee chairwoman, said she had never been made aware of the request by the auditor's office.

She then questioned Wolfe about whether a $310,000 certificate of deposit had been cashed and transferred to the city's general account without the council's knowledge.

After the meeting, Wolfe said he believed a CD might have been cashed in 2005 with approval from Treasurer Ron Rowley. Wolfe said he had no knowledge of money from the CD being transferred. Rowley has been ill and did not attend the meeting.

Boardman called for an emergency Finance Committee meeting to investigate the matter and attempt to meet the auditors prior to the July 31 deadline.

In other business, Police Chief Earl Whittington reported that four candidates for police officer positions qualified to be hired after testing and will train at the West Virginia State Police Academy in September. If all complete training and are hired, it will be the first time in 20 years the department has been fully staffed with uniformed officers, Whittington said.

The Council also approved Wolfe's request to purchase more than $11,000 worth of recycling bags to distribute free to Dunbar residents. Wolfe said his office has been inundated with requests for the bags in recent months. The bags will be distributed to residents quarterly.