Former Saugus interim library director suspended

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to suspend former interim Library Director Ewa Jankowska with pay Tuesday night.?Neither the trustees nor the interim director fulfilled the responsibilities of their positions based on the guidelines issued by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,” said John Sullivan of the accounting firm Melanson Heath. “Specifically, they did not maintain complete and accurate records of library finances or prepare and issue reports of library receipts and expenditures.”Jankowska, who is currently listed as the Head of Technical Services at the library, served as temporary director from 2007 until new director Diane Wallace took over in June of 2011.The vote to suspend her came after a nearly 90-minute executive session with Sullivan, who has been auditing the library, and https://newitemlive.wpengine.com/articles/2011/12/16/news/news09.txt”>Town Manager Andrew Bisignani .Sullivan also said “supervision was lacking” and that “too much responsibility” was given to the administrative assistant “without any checks and balances.”The vote came almost two weeks after former library administrative assistant Linda Duffy, who is accused of funneling more than $800,000 from the library, pleaded innocent in U.S. District Court in Boston to four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.Sullivan said he will be continuing his investigation and will meet again with the board at its next meeting on Tuesday.?At that time we hope to have (the investigation) more completed,” said Sullivan.?We?re in the same situation where we?re restoring public confidence and trust regarding the library and the issues that occurred there,” said selectmen Chairman Scott Crabtree.At its previous meeting on Dec. 21, the board voted unanimously to request the resignation of the current Library Board of Trustees.So far only Sherri Raftery, who was just appointed over the summer, has submitted a letter of resignation, according to selectmen clerk Wendy Reed.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].