Saugus had ’cause’ to fire library boss

SAUGUS – A labor hearing report recently obtained by The Daily Item states that the town of Saugus had “just cause” to impose discipline “up to and including termination” of former Saugus Library interim director Ewa Jankowska.But Jankowska was placed on paid administrative leave in January and was allowed to retire in May after several executive session meetings by the Board of Selectmen.Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino said it was a “business decision” to not terminate Jankowska because the board wanted to avoid a possible lawsuit.?There?s a confidentiality agreement in there so I don?t feel comfortable say too much,” said Serino. “But you have to understand she didn?t steal any money. I think any other course of action would have resulted in the town having to spend tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees and most likely getting sued ? That?s what the board kept in mind.”Read findings from the report.Selectmen Vice Chairman Steve Castinetti said the board chose not to terminate Jankowska based on the town?s current financial troubles.?She was eligible for retirement and if we had terminated her, which we certainly could have, there probably would have been a lawsuit against the town which we would have to defend and pay to defend,” said Castinetti. “I think the board felt there was a distinct possibility that she could have prevailed based on her length of her service.”The report established four charges against Jankowska, saying she “failed to perform her duties satisfactorily and with reasonable care”; she “failed in her duties by ? allowing a misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars”; she “failed to put in place reasonable safeguards to prevent such misappropriation”; and she “failed to ensure that money received by the library was properly safeguarded.”Federal agents arrested former administrative assistant Linda Duffy in December for allegedly stealing more than $800,000 in library fees and donations over a seven-year period while an employee there.The findings lay part of the blame for Duffy?s alleged theft on Jankowska, noting, “Duffy was able to accomplish her nefarious acts in large part because there was no oversight by Jankowska of Duffy?s work on financial matters, as well as the substantial lack of involvement and oversight by Jankowska of much of the administrative activities of the library.”The report states that Duffy forged the names of Jankowska and members of the Library Board of Trustees in part because, “Jankowska did not involve herself in many of the financial and administrative responsibilities of an interim library director.”The report also states that Jankowska “observed Duffy engaging in at best questionable conduct and more clearly wrongful conduct, but took no meaningful action.”?She caught Duffy signing her name to financial paperwork, putting in for hours she did not work and using Saugus funds to buy books for the library where her husband worked,” said the report. “Yet Jankowska failed to report these misdeeds to the town.”The report concludes that Jankowska “has shown herself as having grossly, carelessly and negligently acting contrary to the public interest.” However, the report did note that Jankowska did not appear to have “personally benefited from the misappropriation of funds.”?The fact remains that she was hired to be in charge, was paid extra to be in charge and was relied on by the town to be in charge,” said the report. “That she was derelict in her duties is evident by several facts and findings.”The report states neither Jankowska nor a representative appeared at the hearing or responded to the charges.Selectmen Stephen Horlick said he couldn?t comment on what was discussed in executive session, but noted he was the one selectmen not to sign the agreement.?I just thought it wasn?t fair to the residents of the town to sign an agreement to let this person get a pension and get health insurance from the town,” said Horlick.Selectman Julie Mitchell and Debra Pane