By Rich Bockmann
The embattled CEO of the Queens Library told reporters earlier this week he does not believe the continuing criticism over his executive compensation and the library’s spending will pose a problem when it comes time for the nonprofit to raise funds.
“I think that people provide funding to the Queens Library because they want to see us improve and access services and because of all the good we do,” Thomas Galante, who has come under fire for earning a three-figure salary while the library outsourced union custodial jobs, told reporters at the central library in Jamaica Monday. “I think people want to see public libraries grow and our services to be expanded and we continue to see that right now.”
The library, which receives the majority of its financial support from the city budget and allocations by individual officials, invited reporters to discuss calls for reform and recent moves made by the trustees nearly a month after a series of news reports were published detailing the executive’s salary and capital construction projects during a time when the library was contracting out union custodial jobs.
In response to the revelations, a special City Council committee spent nearly three hours grilling Galante earlier this month, a state lawmaker from northeast Queens called on him to resign and the borough president handed the board of trustees a list of recommendations aimed at reforming the library’s operations.
At its Feb. 20 meeting, the library’s board of trustees authorized an outside company to review Galante’s $392,000 salary and agreed to restructure his contract — eliminating an “evergreen” clause that had the agreement renew for a five-year period every day.
The company has three months to complete his study, which will compare salaries of presidents at comparable nonprofits throughout the city, and at that point the board plans to redraft Galante’s contract.
Chairman Gabriel Taussig told reporters he shared Galante’s belief that those who have routinely funded the library will continue to do so.
“I think our elected officials appreciate what the libraries do in their communities, and I think they understand that in order for us to continue to be able to do that, we need to be properly funded,” he said. “And I’m confident that they won’t lose sight of that fact when it comes down to budget decisions that they have to make in the next few months.”
With a new progressive city government focused on tackling income inequality, Galante’s pay has been called excessive and the brunt of the criticism has stemmed from his perceived indifference to the library’s staff.
When asked if he would take a pay cut when it comes time to renegotiate his contract, Galante responded, “I can’t answer that.”
At the Council oversight hearing, Galante dodged a question asking if he earned outside income, and it was later revealed he earned $143,000 over a two-year period as a consultant for a Long Island school district.
Galante told reporters he worked at the Elmont Union Free School District prior to joining the library and at different times he worked as a contractor for the school system. He said there was no conflict of interest, explaining all work done for Elmont was carried out either at his home or on site at the school district’s offices.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
