Two members of the Westmore­land County Bar Association board of directors — the vice president and its past president — have resigned in the aftermath of an audit that revealed financial irregularities in its operations.

The issue, according to current and former board members, is the status of longtime executive Diane Krivoniak, whose stewardship of bar association finances was the focus of a private review earlier this year.

Auditors found potential reporting issues with how some funds were being spent and had questions about the association's pension plan for its four employees as well as reimbursements for health benefits.

“The findings were dealt with,” said association President Tim Andrews. “I saw no issue of any wrongdoing.”

Krivoniak, 60, of Latrobe has served as the association's director since 1989.

She has the support of Andrews and the four remaining board members.

About 500 lawyers are members of the county bar association and pay $380 in monthly dues. Krivoniak and her three-member staff oversee continuing education for attorneys, social gatherings, publication of a legal journal and coordination of its office and meeting space in downtown Greensburg.

It operates with a $529,000 annual budget, Krivoniak said.

Former President John Noble and Vice President Margaret Tremba resigned from the board earlier this summer after the board rejected a motion to fire Krivoniak.

Noble on Friday did not say any crime was committed but said he was not convinced that the financial problems outlined in audit warranted Krivoniak remaining in her position.

Auditors outlined several findings that were critical of the bar association's internal controls, including record-keeping regarding how checks were issued and Krivoniak's receipt of money for health insurance benefits that wasn't properly taxed as income.

“We're not accusing her of stealing money, but we're lawyers and we should follow our rules. This executive director bypassed the chain of command and went to past presidents for support. She's Teflon,” Noble said.

Noble said Krivoniak offered to resign in April but did not do so after the board refused to keep private details of the audit. Krivoniak said she never offered to resign.

Krivoniak dismissed Noble's allegations as a “personal vendetta.”

“I think my reputation speaks for itself,” she said.

Tremba could not be reached for comment.

A former teacher, Krivoniak has strong support among the remaining board and bar association members, according to attorney David Millstein.

Millstein, who is editor of the bar association's internal newsletter, downplayed the audit's findings in an article published earlier this year.

“At no time did anyone believe there was a misuse of bar association funds,” Millstein said Friday.

Board member John Ranker said additional financial controls have since been implemented, and a lawyer was hired to address tax issues that surfaced regarding how health insurance reimbursements were paid. No criminal activity was suspected, he said.

“Diane is very dedicated to the bar association. Matters that we need to address, we will address,” Ranker said.

Andrews said bar association members will meet in October to elect a new vice president and potentially fill the last opening on the board.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---