Mercer Commissioners and the salary board voted down six thousand dollars in extra compensation for two county controller office employees.

It comes after concerns were raised over a violation of Sunshine laws made by two of the county commissioners Anne Coleman and Bill Finely and the county's controller, Steven Sherman.

County District Attorney Peter Acker says a previous meeting was called without notifying the public.

He added that the payment was invalid because of this error and needed to be rehandled.

Commissioners say the matter should have originally been handled by the salary board.

"The two commissioners have decided to make the county whole," said Commissioner Timothy McGonicle. "They're going to take it out of their own pocket and pay this money back. There were three people involved in this situation and two of them stood up and done the right thing."

The additional hours were spent working on the creation of a new financial system that would permit the county to collect taxes and pay its bills. Additionally, it would make certain the county could make other obligations.

Mercer County Controller Steve Sherman was also accused of possibly embezzling that $6,000 for his own gain. However, in a report released over the weekend, Acker said there was "...no evidence that the controller struck the money in his personal pocket or went to Las Vegas to gamble it way."

The DA decided not to file any criminal charges, but could if further violations arise.