WILDWOOD — A former Hamilton Township construction code official was charged with official misconduct Nov. 6 after she allegedly embezzled money that was paid for building permits, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said.
Lisa Hare, 41, an assistant construction code official, allegedly took a total of nearly $12,000 in permit fees for herself instead of depositing it in township bank accounts, assistant prosecutor Curt Baker said. She allegedly took money on several occasions between April 2004 and February 2007.
Hare currently works as a confidential assistant to Commissioner Bill Davenport. Her duties included overseeing the city’s construction office, commonly referred to as COWCO, and “rectify operational problems.” That shared service between the municipalities is set to be dis-banded by Dec. 31 and recently Hare had been appointed to serve in the new North Wild-wood Construction Office.
Hare left the job in Hamilton Township in 2007, and the financial irregularities were re-ported to township police earlier this year, Housel said. She turned herself in to police Nov. 6 and was released on a summons.
If Hare is convicted, she faces as many as 10 years in prison, Housel said.
