NORWICH – The City of Norwich has been under audit by the New York State Comptroller's Office for months, yet no elected official has mentioned the issue to the public and regular employees have been ordered not to speak publicly about it by Mayor Christine Carnrike.

A review of the city council's meeting minutes over the last several months did not reveal the audit as a topic for discussion or concern on any agenda, nor was it discussed at meetings.

The city clerk's office confirmed Thursday the topic had not yet been discussed publicly. No council member asked about the audit could recall a public discussion. Officials said the audit began before November last year.

Officials asked about the audit, before an unrelated public hearing Tuesday over a dismissed animal law, declined to comment on the audit, except to imply it was “routine” or “not a big deal.”

Despite the implication that the audit is routine, it remains unclear. “Routine” is a word State Comptroller Deputy Press Secretary Tania Lopez declined to use or confirm when asked directly about it last week.

“We are looking at all departments,” she responded.

The last time the state audited the city was in February 2013, and it had focused on computer based infrastructure and technology.