Fraud auditor to dig into Revere library theft records

REVERE – A financial auditor specializing in fraud investigations will join the city’s probe into misspending by Library Director Robert E. Rice Jr.Rice resigned his job Tuesday hours before Mayor Thomas Ambrosino met with City Council members to brief them on a city probe into what he described as library money spent by Rice on “things with no relevance to the function of the library.”Rice as of Thursday had not been charged in connection with the investigation. City Chief Financial Officer George Anzuoni on Tuesday said Rice was cooperating with investigators.Anzuoni said police investigators have taken over the Rice investigation from the city purchasing agent’s and auditor’s office but a representative from Melanson Heath, the city’s independent auditor, will meet with city finance officials next week to determine the scope of any additional investigation into Rice’s spending.”The person assigned has done numerous fraud audits. He will see how deep this goes,” Anzuoni said.Revelations about library misspending surfaced less than half a year after city officials wrapped up a more than three year investigation into the Department of Public Works. The probe led to the resignations of two DPW workers who paid state fines for breaking conflict of interest laws.The state Ethics Commission cleared their boss, Joseph Maglione, of accusations by the pair that he solicited bribes from them but an extensive state audit found the department lacked adequate controls over gasoline dispensed from city pumps.City Councilor George Rotondo, who spearheaded the DPW probe, said city financial oversight systems worked properly in revealing library misspending.”(Auditor) Laurie Giardella and (Purchasing Agent) Marie Zelandi should be congratulated. The fail safe system worked,” Rotondo said.