LYNN — The controversial CEO of Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) was ordered to take a 90-day leave last month following a critical performance evaluation, The Item has learned.
The action by the Board of Directors followed receipt of a 200-page job performance evaluation on Paul Crowley. The review by a North Shore attorney and human resources consultant was started at the request of the board. It took six months to complete.
GLSS declined to release the report. But sources said the review was critical of Crowley’s conduct and administration of the agency’s $67 million budget. The 13-member panel received an executive summary of the document in late August and placed Crowley on leave after Labor Day.
“You can surmise there’s a connection between the report and Paul being put on leave,” said a source who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak for GLSS. “The 90 days is time for the board to fully research the information provided in the evaluation and complete their due diligence.”
A decision on Crowley’s future is expected at the end of the three-month period in December. His salary last year was $346,742 in total compensation, according to GoldStar.
Two board members contacted by The Item declined to discuss the controversy.
Rev. Christopher Foustoukos, of St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody, apologized, but said he could not comment.
In a previous interview, Board Member Joseph Sano said Crowley does an excellent job and wins praise from the board. At the time, he declined to say whether the sabbatical was Crowley’s idea or the board’s.
But on Monday he referred calls to the GLSS executive team.
Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Haltkin and Planning and Development Director Valerie Parker Callahan, who were named to manage GLSS in Crowley’s absence, declined a request for an interview.
“To be clear, it is GLSS’ policy to decline giving verbal statements to the media,” Haltkin said in an email.
Crowley did not return multiple requests for comment.
One source said the board was being targeted by some groups who thought they weren’t doing anything about complaints about Crowley, when, in fact, they were.
Last summer, more than three dozen seniors protested on GLSS’ front steps to demand Crowley come out to speak with them about Stacey Minchello. The former Lynn Council on Aging director resigned following a complaint she filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination alleging Crowley harassed one of the seniors.
Crowley did not emerge and declined to be interviewed.
