Insurance settlement lands Saugus Library $100G in wake of thefts

SAUGUS – A recent insurance settlement has netted the Saugus Library $100,000 in recovered funds three months after former administrative assistant Linda Duffy was arrested and charged with stealing more than $800,000 from the library.Library Director Diane Wallace said the settlement represents only money that was meant for the town and not the $450,000 in GE Foundation funds Duffy?s indictment alleges she stole.?That?s the maximum that the policy is for,” said Wallace. “We had a lot of conference calls and a lot of documentation. They were not responsible for Friends (of Saugus Library) money or GE money. It had to be money that was going to the town. We had to prove there was at least $100,000 that the town lost.”Wallace said she didn?t know exactly how much Duffy allegedly stole from the library itself, but estimated around $40,000 in fine money and more than $140,000 in grant money went missing.?There?s no telling how much cash was actually stolen,” said Wallace. “People tell me about raffles they held and handed cash over.”Town Treasurer/Collector Wendy Hatch said the money will go into a donation account on the recommendation of the Department of Revenue, because that money was intended to be a gift to the library that never made it there.?There were some substantial donations that we know were intended for the library and that money was stolen,” said Hatch, who is also serving as a temporary library trustee. “With everything that?s happened, it gives them something to look forward to, to enhance the library and make some necessary changes or improvements.”Wallace said she doesn?t want to use the recovered money for salaries because it will “gobble it right up,” but listed several areas at the library in need of repair, including upgrading their printer, fixing the public copier and buying a DVD cleaner.?We?re hoping to do some of the things that were delayed over the years because of a lack of funding,” said Wallace. “We?re used to being frugal and practical. We intend to make it last a long time. There?s no reason and no way we would spend it all quickly, but we do have some pressing needs.”For Wallace, having a new Library Board of Trustees has been helpful in generating new ideas for the library while making sure all library business is conducted in the open.?Everything will be very transparent,” said Wallace. “Between the staff, the trustees, the town, there?s nothing we do that we can?t show people. We have no reason to deceive anybody. Everything we do here is for the community and anyone who has questions we?re happy to answer them.”Duffy, who was arrested on Dec. 7, is due back in federal court in Boston on March 27 at 3:15 p.m. for a status conference. Noreen Russo, clerk for Magistrate Judge Robert Collings, said Duffy is not required to be present at this hearing.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].