Attorney fees charged to Leetsdale borough last year in relation to a state Ethics Commission Investigation have been paid, borough officials said Tuesday night.

Fives & Associates, a Pittsburgh-based law firm, sent the borough an invoice in December, seeking a $2,000 payment for legal representation the firm provided three councilmen called for questioning in an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission.

Council President Joseph McGurk said the new board was under the impression the bill had not been paid when officials raised questions about the fees at the January board meeting. He said officials have since been made aware the that bill was paid in late December.

The borough paid Fives & Associates more than $10,000 to provide legal representation for Councilman Osman Awad and former council members Tom Brown and Ben Frederick in connection with the state ethics investigation.

Awad has said that the three council members were legally advised, as witnesses in an investigation, to have a lawyer present during questioning. Brown didn’t want to comment on the matter last month and Frederick couldn’t be reached for comment.

McGurk said the state commission began conducting its investigation on Feb. 1, looking into unethical behavior in the borough. The investigation was based on complaints from a citizens group that council members misused credit cards and spent borough money irresponsibly.

Prior to the investigation, the borough commissioned an audit that was completed in January 2011. 

When council meets tonight, the board plans to review and accept a letter that Ambridge-based auditor Mark Turnley submitted last year regarding the borough’s 2010 audit report. McGurk said the previous council never approved the letter.

Council also plans to approve an amended 2012 budget and assign signature authorizations for the borough's pension plans and remaining funds. Spending limits for department heads will also be voted upon, allowing amounts of up to $1,000 without prior approval, up to $2,500 with prior department chair approval, and more than $2,500 only with council's full approval.

In other business Tuesday, council also approved the following appointments:

• Val Dschuhan to a four-year term on the Civil Service Commission.

• Tom James to a six-year term and Robert Cobourne to a three-year term on the Planning Commission.

• Barbara Span to a five-year term on the Recreation Board.

• Deborah Taggert to a five-year term on the Shade Tree Commission.

• Gardner Moody to a five-year term on the Leetsdale Municipal Authority Board.