Saugus board removes last of library trustees

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to remove the remaining Library Board of Trustees as the fallout from the alleged theft of $800,000 from the Saugus Public Library by a former worker continues.Trustees Sherri Raftery and Teresa Lyons had submitted their letters of resignation by Tuesday night?s meeting, after selectmen voted on Dec. 21 to ask them to resign because they failed to notice what was going on.According to selectman Chairman Scott Crabtree, Pamela Gill, Joanne Vannah and Patricia Fish did not submit letters.?We didn?t receive any other letters so we voted (Tuesday) to remove them,” said Crabtree on Wednesday.Selectmen based their decision on the findings of forensic accountant John Sullivan, who has been auditing the library?s financial records after former administrative assistant Linda Duffy was charged with stealing more than $800,000 from the library. Duffy 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.The findings state that neither the trustees nor the interim director at the time “fulfilled the responsibilities of their positions” by not maintaining accurate financial records nor issuing “reports of library receipts and expenditures.” The findings went on to say that “supervision was lacking” and too much responsibility was given to the administrative assistant without any “checks and balances.”Selectman Steve Castinetti said he thought the decision was fair based on long executive sessions with Sullivan.?Based on everything that the forensic accountant came up with, it was pretty apparent that the rules and regulations of the Board of Trustees and the interim director were not being followed,” said Castinetti. “I think if we weren?t sure or fairly convinced, we wouldn?t have taken that action, but based on the auditor, things weren?t getting done the way they were supposed to be done.”Castinetti said he hasn?t heard from any of the other trustees, but noted the board had been instructed to cease contact with the trustees.After the vote, the board appointed three temporary trustees: Town Treasurer Wendy Hatch, Town Meeting member Paul Allen and resident Joanne Gayron.Crabtree said the temporary appointments were made to “keep the operations of the library moving.”The vote to remove the trustees was one of many decisions made by the board over the last month. On Jan. 4, selectmen voted to suspend former interim director Ewa Jankowska with pay, and Tuesday night it voted to hold a disciplinary hearing for her.Temporary Town Manager John Vasapolli said the hearing will look into “whether or not (Jankowska) properly performed her duties as library director with respect to finances.”Vasapolli said possible outcomes from a hearing include suspension or termination, and said Jankowska is entitled to a hearing before an independent third party with at least 10 days notice.?We?ll have a hearings officer who will make findings and report it to the board and the Board of Selectmen will take whatever action they deem appropriate,” said Vasapolli. “Right now we?re in the process of consulting with labor counsel to give her sufficient notice and what the process will be.”Vasapolli said he couldn?t give any specific details about the findings because the meeting with the auditor was held in executive session.?That will all come out after the hearing,” said Vasapolli.Calls made to the trustees Wednesday were not returned.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].