GREAT BARRINGTON — Assistant Town Manager Chris Rembold and Department of Public Works Superintendent Joseph Aberdale are on paid administrative leave, according to a town official.

Town officials have not publicly stated why. News of the leave comes two days after an audit report detailed contracting and procurement failures tied to a town project that ballooned to $2.6 million, exceeding its original budget by roughly $1.5 million.

For the same project, a lawsuit by Morais Concrete Construction is seeking $869,395.61, plus interest over allege unpaid contractor bills.

According to the lawsuit, filed in April, the town hired Morais in 2024 to install an underground drainage system and complete trench repairs for $1.1 million.

The complaint alleges that the town later directed the company to perform additional work beyond the original contract through multiple change orders approved by all parties.

In April 2026, the company submitted a final payment application after receiving a certificate of final completion.

Despite acknowledging that the work was satisfactorily completed, the town has "failed and refused to pay" amounts owed under the contract, according to the complaint.

CBIZ Forensic Consulting Group launched a forensic review in February for projects where costs increased by more than 25 percent above the original contract value.

A report released June 9 examined the street reconstruction project and found widespread procurement and internal control failures that contributed to escalating costs.

The town has already paid $1.51 million on the project, exceeding the original $1.1 million contract value, before adding outstanding claims.

For much of the period reviewed, Mark Pruhenski served as town manager before leaving at the end of 2024. Rembold, who has worked for the town since 2009, served as interim town manager from January through November 2025.

Among the report's findings was a lack of documentation showing town financial officials certified that funding was available before change orders were approved.

Under the town's standard practice, the town accountant is expected to identify the funding source and appropriation on project paperwork, but auditors found that documentation was missing from every executed change order they reviewed.

Auditors also identified several instances of noncompliance involving change orders, including missing or potentially unauthorized signatures and seven instances in which Aberdale signed forms that auditors said should have been signed by the town manager.

Other forms were left incomplete, and several payment applications lacked required notarizations.

The report also found times when work was billed and completed without proper authorization, including purchase orders referencing work at Mason Library and a change order involving Cottage Street, both of which fell outside the project's original scope.

In some cases, change orders were submitted after work had already begun. Auditors also reported missing supporting documents and project records that were disorganized and not maintained in chronological order.

During a special town meeting June 29, voters will be asked to transfer $1 million from free cash and $200,000 from the stabilization fund to cover outstanding payment obligations and related costs tied to capital projects.

The Select Board and Finance Committee are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss the audit findings.

Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove and Select Board Chair Steve Bannon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.