Public Employee Press

Audit blasts Queens Library corruption

Top executives at Queens Borough Public Library made more than $300,000 in prohibited expenditures, cut weekly branch library hours by four hours and downsized the frontline staff while management salaries soared, according to a stinging audit and investigation by the New York City Comptroller.

Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said the audit and investigation, released in July, "uncovered a sickening track record of waste, fraud and abuse," adding that the library's fired president and chief executive, Thomas Galante, "used Queens Library as his personal piggybank, charging the public for outrageous expenses, including endless rounds of drinks, extravagant dinners and concert tickets."

Moonlighting for $1.67 million

The audit and report found that Galante worked as a consultant for the Elmont, N.Y. school system - earning $1.67 million between January 2005 and June 2014. He billed Elmont for five or more hours of work on 100 days while also reporting that he worked for the library. He also failed to report, as required by the library, his ownership interest in three companies. Galante's annual compensation was $400,000 at the library.

"Our members are angry and disgusted by the arrogance and sense of entitlement of Tom Galante," said John Hyslop, president of Queens Borough Library Local 1321. "But they are all happy that the comptroller did the report and that we now have more access to information."

For years, Local 1321 pushed for greater transparency as the library laid off scores of workers, farmed out security jobs, slashed services, cut branch hours and screamed poverty during annual city budget deliberations. As the Galante scandal unfolded last year, the New York State Legislature passed a DC 37-backed law requiring more transparency at Queens Library.

The audit suggests that Galante misrepresented the library's financial condition at City Council hearings in order to be able to appeal for additional funding. In a shell game, the library ran multi-year deficits as it apparently disproportionately allocated expenditures to its city funds account while running surpluses in other hidden accounts containing funds from donors and the state and federal governments.

The library scandal came to light last year when the Daily News reported on Galante's high salary, lavish perks and questionable spending, which included building a smoking terrace off his office at the Queens Central Library. His credit card purchases included $500 monthly gas purchases, smokeless ashtrays, Apple TVs, Disneyland tickets and airline upgrades.

"It was outrageous that this spending was going on while the library screamed poverty and downsized its staff," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. "But as this chapter closes, we look forward to working with the library to improve services and bolster its workforce."

As the Daily News continued to report on the corruption and politicians expressed outrage, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz removed half of the board - trustees who were strong Gallante supporters. The new Board then suspended Gallante with pay in Septemeber and fired him in December.

The audit found that the current head of the library, Bridget Quinn-Carrey, who served as the chief operating officer under Galante, also made inappropriate expenditures. But her credit card bills account for a much smaller amount of the $300,000 in prohibited expenditures than Galante's portion.

More than $100,000 of the inappropriate spending might be considered as fraud and embezzlement. Stringer has reported his findings to the Internal Revenue Service and law enforcement agencies.

— Gregory N. Heires