The official who oversees Westmoreland County's finances has criticized county commissioners' decision to purchase a $1.6 million workers' compensation insurance contract from a commissioner's family friend instead of continuing to self-insure, TribLive.com reports.

Jeff Balzer

Westmoreland County Controller Jeff Balzer recommended that commissioners obtain an independent review of the contract with the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange they approved March 16. He pointed out that company owner Charles Volpe was Commissioner Gina Cerilli's largest campaign donor, contributing $18,000 to her political action committee, and her longtime family friend.

Balzer emailed commissioners urging them to take another look at the deal. Cerilli, a first-term Democrat elected in 2015, said she was "not going to do anything to appease Controller Balzer because he's unhappy with the decision." 

Read TribLive.com's story here.